Over 20 dead following boarding accident at ferry terminal in central Bangladesh

Rescuers from the Bangladesh Coast Guard and other local agencies initially recovered the bodies of 16 deceased individuals from the submerged vehicle. Two adult female passengers were still alive when they were pulled out of the river but were pronounced deceased after they were brought to hospital.

Search and rescue (SAR) teams found another eight bodies by 14:00 on Thursday, raising the incident's confirmed death toll to 26.

The deceased also included 11 women and seven small children.

Officials said that other people who were also on the bus may still be unaccounted for, thus prompting the continuation of the SAR effort.