BANGLADESH

Villagers and relatives found nine more bodies floating near the site of a ferry accident in the river Meghna while the fate of at least 16 other missing people still remained uncertain on Thursday.

The death toll climbed to 122 on Thursday morning. Rescuers recovered 112 bodies until Wednesday evening when the official rescue operation was called off following early Tuesday's crash in the district's Gojaria upazila.

Family members and relatives of more than one dozen missing people were scouring the river for their loved ones on Thursday.

Munshiganj's deputy commissioner Mohammad Azizul Alam told that authorities have also kept their eyes open for the missing as he has a list of 16 people still unaccounted for as provided by their family members and relatives.

The passenger ferry, MV Shariatpur-1, carrying more than 250 passengers capsized early Tuesday after colliding with a cargo vessel.

The sunken ferry was salvaged on Wednesday afternoon and later was towed to the shore.

Rescuers called off their operation after they concluded searching 'every corner' of the salvaged ferry, said police superintendent Mohammad Shahabuddin Khan.

Local Coast Guard commander Ferdous Ahmed said identity of the newly found seven bodies could not be confirmed immediately.

Rescue ship Rustam's commander Fazlur Rahman said the salvaged ferry was now under Gojaria Police Station.

Shariatpur assistant superintendent of police (Naria circle) Mohammad Talebur Rahman told that 41 dead bodies have been handed over to their families and relatives until Wednesday.

Three committees have been formed by shipping ministry, BIWTA and the maritime transport directorate to find out the reasons behind the disaster.