Questions continue to surround why the bus named Souharda Paribahan suddenly lost control and plunged into the Padma River at Rahbari from the pontoon.
Over the past two days, various speculations have circulated, including claims that the driver was not inside the bus and had exited the vehicle before it sank. However, it has now been confirmed that the driver himself was driving the bus. His body has also been recovered.
The deceased driver has been identified as Arman Khan, 31, son of Arab Khan from Paschim Khalkhula village in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari.
What exactly happened in the final moments that led the driver to lose control of the bus remains unclear. To better understand the incident, Jago News conducted an investigation by speaking with drivers, mechanics, eyewitnesses, survivors, and experts, offering a clearer picture of what may have occurred.
According to the findings, the driver applied the brakes, but they failed to respond at that moment. Experts suggest that in some buses, if the engine is turned off and then restarted, the brakes may not function instantly when applied. A similar situation is believed to have occurred with the Souharda bus. Despite being experienced, the driver may not have realised the issue immediately.
There had also been claims that the driver was not driving and had allowed his assistant to operate the vehicle. However, multiple passengers confirmed that the same driver who had been driving since Kumarkhali was attempting to board the ferry. This was later confirmed when his body was recovered among the victims.
Experts note that while modern braking systems are available in vehicles today, they also come with certain limitations—one of which is dependence on air pressure.
Mechanics familiar with the route claim that the bus lost control due to a loss of air pressure in the brakes. According to them, in Tata TC model buses, if the engine is turned off, sufficient pressure is often not maintained in the braking system, making it difficult to stop the vehicle.
Experienced driver Moklesur Rahman, who operates on the Dhaka–Khulna route, told Jago News, “If there is a problem in the air brake system of such buses, a major accident can occur within moments.”
Sources at the ferry terminal said the driver made multiple attempts to stop the bus but failed. Eventually, the uncontrolled vehicle plunged into the river.
Abul Kalam, who was returning to Dhaka after the holidays, had boarded the bus and sat for 10–15 minutes. Due to traffic congestion near the ferry terminal, he got off the bus about two minutes before the accident.
He told Jago News, “The same driver who had been driving was attempting to board the ferry. I saw a driving licence hanging from his waist.”
Another Souharda Paribahan driver, Aslam, said, “If the engine is running, the air pressure does not drop. But once the engine is turned off, the pressure decreases. The gauge shows whether the air pressure is sufficient. The engine needs to run for some time to build up pressure. The driver may have made a mistake by accelerating immediately after starting the engine without checking the air pressure. That is why the brakes did not work when he applied them.”
Afzal Hossain, a driver of Lalon Paribahan on the Kumarkhali–Dhaka route, said, “I have been driving on this road for 15 years, but I have never seen such an accident before. The driver could not brake due to a lack of air pressure.”
Babul Islam, a bus mechanic at Daulatdia Bazar, said, “Air pressure is essential for the braking system. If it fails, the driver has little control. That is why such vehicles need to be kept running most of the time.”
Professor Shamsul Haque of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), a transport expert, said, “The braking system used here is an air brake system. Modern braking technologies are available, but it needs to be investigated why this system failed midway.”
He added, “In addition to mechanical issues, safety measures at the pontoon should be improved. Unguarded or low-height guard railings increase the risk of such accidents. Installing higher guard rails could help prevent such incidents. If the railing had been one to one-and-a-half feet higher, the bus might have been stopped.”
Goalanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sathi Das said, “The cause of the accident is being investigated, although various discussions are ongoing among locals.”
The incident occurred around 5:30pm on Wednesday, when a Souharda Paribahan bus lost control and plunged into the Padma River with around 50 passengers near ferry ghat No. 3. The bus sank instantly.
At least 26 bodies have been recovered so far, while six people remain missing.