OUR CORRESPONDENT, Faridpur

At least 26 bodies have so far been recovered following a bus plunge into the Padma river while boarding a ferry at Daulatdia in Rajbari district on Wednesday.

The rescue operation is still ongoing, said Dewan Sohel Rana, deputy director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Eight men, seven children and 11 women have died. Of them, 22 bodies have already been handed over to their families, he said.

Recovery operations were carried out by four units, including 10 divers, with support from the army, police, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Coast Guard and local administration, according to the fire service.

So far, the identities of 24 victims have been confirmed.

They are Rehena Akhter, 61; Marzina Khatun, 56; Rajib Biswas, 28; Zahura Anti, 27; Kazi Saif, 30; Marzina Akhter, 32; Israfil, 3; Safia Akhter Rinthi, 12; Faiz Shahanur, 11; Tajbid, 7; Arman Khan, 31; Najmira Jesmin, 30; Lima Akhter, 26; Jochna, 35; Mukta Khanam, 38; Nasima, 40; Ayesha Akhter Suma, 30; Soha Akhter, 11; Ayesha Siddika, 13; Arman, 7 months; Abdur Rahman, 6; Sabit Hasan, 8; Ahnaf Tahmid Khan, 25; and Ujjal Sheikh, 40.

The district administration is providing Tk 25,000 to each bereaved family and Tk 15,000 to each of the injured to meet their immediate needs, said Md Hafizur Rahman, Rajbari’s assistant commissioner and executive magistrate.

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