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Bangladesh ferry capsizes on Meghna river near Dhaka Bangladesh ferry capsizes on Meghna river near Dhaka
(about 7 hours later)
A ferry carrying at least 200 people has capsized on a river during a storm in Bangladesh. Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors after a ferry carrying at least 200 people capsized and sank during a storm in Bangladesh.
A number of bodies - including women and children - have been recovered so far but police say they fear the death toll will rise. A number of bodies have been recovered so far but police say they fear the death toll will rise.
The ferry overturned in high winds on the Meghna river in Munshiganj district, south of the capital, Dhaka.The ferry overturned in high winds on the Meghna river in Munshiganj district, south of the capital, Dhaka.
Ferry accidents are common on Bangladesh's vast river network and scores are killed every year.Ferry accidents are common on Bangladesh's vast river network and scores are killed every year.
Such incidents are often blamed on overcrowding and poor quality of the boats, which are the main form of travel in some rural parts of the country.Such incidents are often blamed on overcrowding and poor quality of the boats, which are the main form of travel in some rural parts of the country.
Passenger confusionPassenger confusion
The MV Miraj-4 capsized as it travelled from Dhaka towards Shariatpur district.The MV Miraj-4 capsized as it travelled from Dhaka towards Shariatpur district.
Rescue vessels were sent to the scene and members of the fire service and coastguard are reportedly involved in the search. The BBC's Shahnaz Parveen in Dhaka says the double-decker ferry is believed to have been overloaded with passengers.
They have yet to find the exact location of the sunken vessel, the BBC's Shahnaz Parveen reports from Dhaka. Saiful Hassan Badal, a local government official, said there were "confusing figures" on how many passengers were on board when the ship sank, but he said the number could range from "200 to 350."
Saiful Hassan Badal, the deputy commissioner of Munshiganj district, was widely quoted as saying there was confusion over the number of passengers on board the ferry, suggesting to the AFP news agency that the number could be as high as 350. Local police chief Ferdous Ahmed told the AFP news agency that "around 20-30 people" managed to swim to safety.
Many passengers may have swum to safety, he was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. Officials said divers had located the sunken ferry and were attempting to recover bodies as darkness fell.
A navy ship, a salvage vessel and about a dozen speedboats were pictured helping with rescue efforts at the scene of the incident.
But the width of the river, the depth of the water and the strong currents were hampering the search, officials added.
Boats are the main form of transport in the rural parts of Bangladesh and ferry accidents are common.
In March 2012, more than 112 people died when a ferry on the wide and fast-moving Meghna river collided with an oil tanker and sank.In March 2012, more than 112 people died when a ferry on the wide and fast-moving Meghna river collided with an oil tanker and sank.
Boats are the main form of travel in parts of rural Bangladesh - a country that is crisscrossed by rivers and waterways.
The authorities have been repeatedly criticised for failing to honour their pledges to tackle lax safety standards.The authorities have been repeatedly criticised for failing to honour their pledges to tackle lax safety standards.