Ferry Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman Rescued After River Drift

A passenger and vehicle-laden roll-on/roll-off ferry, named Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman, faced severe operational hurdles on the Padma River involving both mechanical failure and powerful river currents. The vessel had originally departed from the Paturia Ghat and was approaching the Goalanda Upazila's Daulatdia Ghat area on Sunday when the emergency unfolded.

According to the verified reports, the trouble began when the ferry suffered a sudden mechanical breakdown just moments before it could dock safely at the Daulatdia pier. Compounding the onboard technical malfunction, unusually strong and relentless currents in the Padma River caught the heavy watercraft, forcing it to drift approximately two kilometers downstream from its intended destination.

At the time of the incident, the stranded ferry was carrying a significant payload consisting of various types of motor vehicles. The cargo on board the Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman included eight passenger buses, four freight trucks, three private cars, three additional small vehicles, and several motorcycles, all trapped on the river for roughly two hours before rescue operations could be successfully completed.

Following the emergency drift, a coordinated rescue mission was launched to retrieve the stricken vessel. The complex operation involved the rescue ship IT-96 working alongside another large ferry, the Khanজাহান আলী (Khan Jahan Ali), which jointly executed the maneuver to tow the disabled craft safely back toward the Paturia Ghat.

The entire ordeal, encompassing the initial drift, the waiting period, and the joint towing operation by the rescue vessels, concluded after a four-hour rescue effort on Sunday. The incident highlights ongoing navigational challenges on the river, where authorities continue to manage vessel deployment amidst demanding environmental conditions.