The May 3 ferry sinking in the Meghna River that claimed the lives of at least 370 people is a reminder of the dangers inherent in this sort of travel. In a place where some 7,000 ferries carry 300,000 people around the country every day, one could argue that the safety record is pretty good, but often these vessels are barely seaworthy and too often they are overcrowded. There is a certain appeal to traveling the way the locals do, so minimize your risks by trying to take ferries only when the weather is good, and not during religious holidays, when overcrowding is more likely.
