LEAD: Death toll from ferry sinking in Bangladesh rises to 118

Asian Economic News, Feb 22, 2005

DHAKA, Feb. 21 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH HIGHER DEATH TOLL)

The death toll from Saturday night's sinking of a passenger ferry in stormy waters in Bangladesh's Buriganga River rose to 118 by Monday afternoon, a naval official said.

''We were able to recover 118 bodies and rescue teams are still searching for more missing passengers,'' Bangladesh Navy Lt. Com. Mahbubul Rashid told reporters. ''It's possible that there are more bodies still trapped inside (the sunken ferry).''

Ferry sinkings are a common occurrence in Bangladesh. The number of missing passengers is often difficult to determine as most ferries do not keep passenger lists, regularly carrying both passengers and cargo beyond their capacity.

Rashid said rescuers have salvaged part of the sunken ferry M.V. Maharaz, which is thought to have been carrying some 250 people when it left Dhaka's river port Sadarghat at about 11:10 p.m. Saturday, bound for Matlab in Chandpur district.

After sailing for 45 minutes, the ferry was caught in a violent storm and sank.