Barisal: An overcrowded ferry capsized and sank in southern Bangladesh on Wednesday, leaving about 25 people missing after the latest in a long series of river accidents in the country.

While some passengers managed to swim ashore, others were feared to have drowned in the River Sandhya shortly after the single-tier vessel set off from the town of Banaripara in Barisal, police said.

Body of a woman was recovered from the river. However, identity of the woman could not be known immediately. Primarily, it has been known that the deceased was wife of Mujibur Rahman, a resident of village of Shatbaria at Syedkathi union in Banaripara upazila.

Identities of the missing passengers could not be known immediately.

‘At least 25 people are still unaccounted for. No bodies have been found,’ Mohammad Akhteruzzaman, the police chief in Barisal, told AFP.

The Banaripara police Officer-in-charge said a ferry named ML Oishee sunk in the river at about 11:30am.

Local police official said between 70 and 80 people were reported to have been travelling on the ferry and witnesses had reported it as being overcrowded.

He said primarily local people were trying to recover the ferry. However, diver teams from Barisal and Banaripara fire services were on their way to the spot.

Aleya Begum, one of the survivors, said most of the passengers managed to swim ashore while around 20 people went on missing during the accident.

Every year hundreds die as boats sink due to overcrowding and the poor condition of the craft, reports AFP.

A ferry accident in February last year left 69 people dead in central Bangladesh, just a fortnight after five others were killed when an overloaded ferry sank.