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The city's Eid rush turned chaotic on Wednesday as thousands of holidaymakers struggled with severe shortages in buses and launches, while a tragic accident at the Sadarghat launch terminal left two people dead and two others missing.
The fatal collision between two passenger launches occurred at approximately 5:30pm, just as thousands of holidaymakers were leaving the capital for home.
According to initial reports, passengers were boarding a launch using the trawler MV Jaker-3 when another launch struck it from behind, crushing two people to death instantly.
Two others remain missing, prompting a large-scale search operation by the Fire Service and Civil Defence teams.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the vessels collided with considerable force, causing passengers to lose balance and fall into the river.
Panic spread rapidly on board, with crew members scrambling to stabilise the launches and rescue those who had fallen into the water.
Rescue divers and support personnel launched an intensive operation in the surrounding waters to locate the missing individuals.
Authorities said the search would continue into the night depending on river conditions and visibility.
Medical teams confirmed that two victims recovered from the river were pronounced dead, though their identities have not yet been officially released.
Several passengers sustained minor injuries, but no official tally has been confirmed.
Maritime experts have long warned about the dangers posed by overcrowded vessels, poor navigation practices, and weak enforcement of safety regulations at major river ports such as Sadarghat.
The recent accident is expected to increase scrutiny of operational standards and safety measures in Dhaka's waterways.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the collision, with preliminary speculation pointing to poor visibility, miscommunication between crews, or navigational errors, although officials have not confirmed any specific cause.
As rescue efforts continue, families of the missing remain anxious, hoping for positive news amid the unfolding tragedy.
Authorities have urged launch operators to strictly follow maritime safety regulations, especially during peak travel hours.
The incident at Sadarghat came on a day when Dhaka witnessed one of the busiest holiday travel rushes in recent years.
Across the city, train stations, bus terminals, and launch ghats were packed with passengers leaving for their home districts ahead of the Eid vacation.
At Kamalapur Railway Station, the country's main railway hub, platforms were overflowing with travellers, though rail authorities reported that most trains departed on schedule.
Similar scenes unfolded at major bus terminals, where people struggled to secure rides amid a serious shortage of city buses.
Many local buses were reserved for long-distance journeys in preparation for Eid, leaving commuters scrambling to reach rail and bus stations.
Mohoshin Mia, a CNG-auto rickshaw driver from Uttara, told The Financial Express that hundreds of passengers struggled to catch buses to reach departure points, highlighting the lack of adequate public transport in the city.
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