Bangladeshis look at the capsized double-decker M V Maharaj ferry, from the banks of the Buriganga River, south of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 21.

The two-deck ferry, the MV Maharaj, capsized when it was hit by a pre-monsoon cyclone in the Buriganga River en route from Dhaka to the central town of Chandpur.

"It's possible that there are more bodies still trapped inside," said Navy Lt. Comdr. Mahbubul Rashid.

Survivors have said they believed up to 500 people had been on board the boat, although the official number of passengers was 167.

Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain visited the scene Feb. 20 and pledged that new measures approved last year to reduce the number of lives being lost in the regular ferry accidents in Bangladesh would be implemented immediately.

The measures include modernization of old ferries, extra checks to ensure safety certificates are up to date and monitoring to prevent overloading. They had been due to come into force at the end of April.

At least 3,000 people have died in more than 260 ferry accidents in Bangladesh since 1977. A combination of rough weather and overcrowding is often to blame.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 26, 2005
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