Bangladesh: Ferry fire kills at least 39 - with death toll likely to rise

It took four hours to extinguish the flames on the overcrowded ferry, Ian Woods reports

A massive fire swept through a river ferry in southern Bangladesh early on Friday, leaving at least 39 dead and 72 injured.

Officials said passengers jumped off the vessel and swam to the shore, officials said.

The blaze broke out at around 3am on the MV Avijan-10 off the coast of Jhalokati district on the Sugandha River.

The United News of Bangladesh news agency quoted fire officer Kamal Uddin as saying the ferry was carrying 800 passengers from Dhaka, the capital, to Barguna, nearly 155 miles to the south.

Fire officer Fazlul Haque said rescuers have recovered 39 bodies and rescued 72 injured passengers.

He said the rescue mission is continuing and the death toll is likely to rise.

Ferry accidents are common and are often blamed on overcrowding and lax rules in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 130 rivers.

Ferries are a leading means of transportation, especially in the southern and north-eastern regions.

In April, 25 people died after a ferry collided with another vessel and capsized outside Dhaka.