A bus carrying about 50 people plunged into a major river in central Bangladesh as it was driving onto a ferry, leaving at least 18 people dead, authorities said on Thursday.
The bus plunged into the Padma river on Wednesday afternoon in Rajbari district, about 84km from the capital Dhaka, fire official Dewan Sohel Rana said.
It was going to the capital from the southwestern district of Kushtia as people returned to work after the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Mr Rana said some of the passengers swam to safety after the accident, but several got trapped.
A rescue vessel joined the operation late on Wednesday and lifted the bus, he said, and rescuers worked overnight to recover bodies, finding 18 by Thursday morning.
Strong currents and rains disrupted the rescue operations overnight, Mr Rana said.
It was not clear if there was still anyone missing.
Ten women and two children were among the dead, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department.
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