• At least 24 confirmed dead after a passenger bus fell into Bangladesh's Padma River.
• The bus lost control while boarding a ferry in Rajbari district.
• Rescue teams have recovered 24 bodies, including five children.
• Reports indicate the bus was carrying around 40 passengers.
• The incident is part of a troubling trend of road accidents in Bangladesh.

At least 24 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus carrying around 40 passengers plunged into the Padma River in Bangladesh while attempting to board a ferry. The tragic accident occurred on Wednesday at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari district, causing significant public outrage and concern for safety regulations, according to aa, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

Rescue operations involving fire service divers and additional rescue units led to the recovery of 24 bodies, including five children, while many others managed to escape before the bus completely sank to a depth of around 30 feet. Witnesses described the harrowing scene as the bus tipped and plunged into the river, raising fears that more passengers might still be trapped, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

The incident has intensified scrutiny over public transport safety in Bangladesh, which has a high incidence of fatal accidents due to poor infrastructure and reckless driving. Recent reports highlight that over 200 road-related deaths were recorded during the Eid holidays alone, with many more attributed to systemic safety issues within the transportation sector, according to South China Morning Post and aa.