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                   Bangladesh Ferry Sinks, Killing at Least 5

   by VOA News

   At least five people are dead and dozens of passengers are missing
   after a river ferry collided with a cargo ship and sank Sunday
   afternoon in Bangladesh, police said.

   Authorities say more than 30 people swam to shore or were pulled from
   the Padma river after the ferry capsized and sank about 40 kilometers
   northwest of the capital, Dhaka.

   Rescuers confirmed that at least five people, including a baby, died.

   The exact number of passengers was not immediately known, hampering
   rescuers' efforts. Ferries in Bangladesh usually do not maintain formal
   passenger lists.

   But survivors said the ferry was carrying about 100 passengers when it
   capsized in the middle of the Padma river, local police said.

   A passenger who survived said many people got trapped inside when the
   ferry sank.

   "The passengers who were on the deck have survived, but many who were
   inside got trapped," Hafizur Rahman Sheikh said in a local newspaper,
   reported by The Associated Press.

   Boat capsizings are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by
   more than 130 rivers.  Experts blame poorly maintained vessels, flaws
   in design and overcrowding for most of the tragedies.

   Some material for this report came from Reuters, AP and AFP.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/bangladesh-ferry-capsizes-dozens-miss
   ing/2653827.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/bangladesh-ferry-capsizes-dozens-missing/2653827.html