Bangladesh ferry toll hits 78 as more bodies found

The overcrowded boat sank within minutes of colliding with a cargo vessel on the Padma river in central Bangladesh, which is heavily reliant on ferries for transport but has a poor safety record.

Fishermen alerted rescue workers to seven bodies found some 10 kilometres (six miles) from the site, officials said.   “We’ve recovered seven bodies today floating downstream,” government administrator of the area, Rashida Ferdous, told AFP, adding the death toll now stood at 78, up from 69, after two bodies were also found on Tuesday.