The sunken ferry, ML Oishi, was recovered on Thursday morning, nearly 21 hours after it capsized in the River Sandhya in Banaripara upazila of Barisal on Wednesday morning.

Divers recovered four more bodies, all children, from the pulled out launch, raising the death toll from the accident to 18; while 13 of the victims are still missing.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) salvage vessel, Nirvik, recovered the ferry at about 8:45am which was located some 60 feet beneath the water.

Earlier, the Wazirpur-bound launch with around 60 passengers on board sank in the river in Banaripara upazila as a heavy chunk of mud from the erosion site on the riverbank fell on the vessel just after it reached Dasherhat Launch Terminal at about 11:15am on Wednesday.

Divers retrieved 13 bodies from the river while another victim died at a hospital.

The deceased are Abdur Razzak, a retired army man, Rabeya Begum, Mozammel Mollah, Rehana Begum, Sukhdeb Mallik, Milon Gharami, Sagar Mir, Joynal Hawladar, Firoza Begum, Shanta, daughter of Siddiqur Rahman, Hira Begum and Monwara Begum, Kohinoor Begum, wife of Majibor Rahman, and Saleha Begum,—all hailing from Wazirpur and Banaripara upazilas in Barisal.

Of them, Saleha Begum who was rescued from the river died at Banaripara Upazila Health Complex.

Deputy Commissioner of Barisal Gazi Saifuzzaman visited the spot and announced to provide Tk 10,000 to the families of each of the deceased.

Meanwhile, a nine-member committee, headed by Barisal Additional District Magistrate Zakir Hossain, was formed to investigate the incident.

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.