1986 Bangladesh MV Shamia ferry incident

1986 Bangladesh MV Shamia ferry incident

A ferry being loaded with passengers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Date	25 May 1986 (1986-05-25)
Location	Meghna River, Bangladesh
Cause	Overloading and severe weather
Participants	1,000 - 1,500 passengers and crew
Outcome	Boat sank
Deaths	600[1]

The 1986 Bangladesh MV Shamia ferry incident refers to one of the worst maritime disasters in human history^[2] that occurred on 25 May 1986 on the Meghna River in Bangladesh, killing 600 passengers.^[3][4] The incident occurred when the overloaded MV Shamia, a two-decker merchant ship ferry, sank while carrying about 1,000 - 1,500 people from Bhola to Dhaka during stormy weather conditions. Initial reports cited between 40 and 240 dead with 500 missing.^[5][6]

Map of Bangladesh (location of accident approx in the centre)

At the end of Ramadan, a fasting month of muslims, many people were returning from their home cities to the capital Dhaka, after celebrating the religious holiday of Eid al-Fitr.^[7][8]

Background

It is believed that cyclone heavily affected the capital of Bangladesh, including its adjoining areas at the time of the accident. The riverboat Shamia was set on sail from Bhola to Dhaka with over 1,000 to 1,500 passengers despite having accommodation for 500 passengers only. Shamia capsized when strong winds struck the ferry in one of the widest parts of the Meghna River.

The President of Bangladesh of that time, Hussain Mohammed Ershad, suspended all double-decker boats within Bangladesh jurisdiction and several officials responsible for issuing maritime-fitness certificates, were suspended for allowing the structural-defective ferries to carry passengers.^[9][10]

References

1. "Incidents involving passenger ships - a global perspective" (PDF).
2. "Routine tragedies on rivers". The Daily Star. August 10, 2014.
3. "Chronology-Bangladesh ferry disasters". Reuters. February 28, 2008 – via www.reuters.com.
4. Oltedal, Helle A.; Lützhöft, Margareta (January 23, 2018). Managing Maritime Safety. Routledge. ISBN 9781351363921 – via Google Books.
5. Jansen, Bart. "10 worst ferry disasters worldwide". USA Today.
6. "Bangladesh Ship, 1,000 Aboard, Sinks". The New York Times. May 27, 1986.
7. "At least 190 dead in ferry disaster". UPI.
8. "160 Die as Boat Sinks in Cyclone". Sun-Sentinel.com. United Press International.
9. "Toll Up to 160 in Bangladesh Ferry Sinking". Los Angeles Times. May 27, 1986.
10. "URGENT Boat Sinks, Hundreds Feared Dead". AP News.