Bangladesh Ferry Sinking Death Toll Rises to 65: Police

The death toll in a ferry accident in central Bangladesh soared to 65 today, after more bodies were recovered from the overcrowded boat which sank within minutes of colliding with a cargo vessel.

A salvage vessel fitted with a crane raised the sunken ferry from the water, allowing the divers from the navy and fire department to search inside the small two-deck boat, inspector Abdul Muktadir told AFP.

Rescue workers recovered 24 more bodies a day after the collision on the Padma river which is one of the largest in the delta nation.

"Most of the new bodies were found in the boat after it was raised and dragged to the shore. The death toll is now 65," said Muktadir.

The toll would rise further as the rescue workers could only search one part of the MV Mostofa boat, he added.

The sinking is the second deadly boat accident in a fortnight in the country, which has a history of ferry tragedies.

The government ordered a probe into the accident but the shipping minister, Shahjahan Khan, said the collision occurred as the boat was "in a race" with other vessels.

Officials said they did not know the exact number of people missing, but passengers said between 70 to 150 people had been on board, while local police chief Rakibuz Zaman said 50 of those swam ashore or were rescued by other vessels.

An 18-year-old girl broke down in tears on Sunday as rescue workers brought the bodies of three members of her family into the terminal -- including her one-month-old baby sister.

"They took a meal at my home and then left for home (on the ferry)," the girl who gave her name only as Akhi said of her family's visit.

"A few hours later they are all gone," she told AFP as she stared at the baby.

Survivors said the MV Mostofa was overcrowded with passengers crammed into the upper and lower decks, leaving them scrambling to find their loved ones when the tragedy struck.

"I was holding my mother's hand when the cargo boat hit our ferry from behind," an 18-year-old who gave his name as Al Amin told AFP at the terminal.

"Within two minutes the ferry was sunk. Before I realised I was washed away to the middle of the river.

"I swam and a ferry rescued me. But I don't know what happened to my mum."

Boat accidents are common in Bangladesh, one of Asia's poorest nations, which is criss-crossed by more than 230 rivers. Boats are the main form of travel in remote rural areas, especially in the south and northeast.

Experts blame poorly maintained vessels, flaws in design and overcrowding for most of the tragedies.

Ferries do not normally keep passenger lists, making it difficult to establish how many are missing after an accident.

This month, at least five people were killed when an overloaded ferry carrying some 200 passengers capsized in an estuary in the south of the country.

And about 50 people were killed in August last year when a crowded ferry sank in rough weather.