Rescuers braved strong winds and currents yesterday as they searched for passengers from a packed ferry that sank on a Bangladesh river – the second such disaster in the country in three days.The MV Raipura sank on Tuesday in the turbulent Jamuna river at Aricha, about 100 km west of the capital, Dhaka, during a tropical storm.The ferry was carrying about 200 people, but only about 50 have been confirmed as survivors.

The rest are feared drowned inside the submerged vessel or swept away by the currents. At least 60 people were killed and 30 are still missing after the twin-decked MV Prince of Patuakhali went down on Sunday during a storm in the choppy Tentulia river at Galachipa, 350 km south of Dhaka.

The ferry was carrying more than 100 passengers and tonnes of merchandise, rescue workers said, despite being registered to carry just 80. Bangladesh has a shocking record of ferry accidents and hundreds of people die each year despite repeated government promises to better legislate the industry. Much of Bangladesh’s vast ferry fleet has little or no safety equipment, and operators and owners often neglect weather forecasts and shipping rules.