Death toll rises to at least 70 in Bangladesh ferry disaster

The death toll from a weekend ferry disaster in central Bangladesh rose to 70 on Monday in the latest shipping mishap in the South Asian nation.  The official search for more bodies by divers at the accident site was called off late Monday morning after the ferry was brought to the surface and towed to the shore.   Up to 140 passengers were thought to be on the river ferry when it capsized Sunday afternoon after being hit by a cargo vessel.  The accident happened on the Padma River about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Dhaka, the capital.  Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by more than 130 rivers.  A Ministry of Shipping statement said an investigation had been ordered.  The Padma is one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh, where overcrowding and poor safety standards are often blamed for ferry disasters.  Last August, a ferry with a capacity of 85 passengers was found to be carrying more than 200 when it capsized on the Padma near Dhaka, leaving more than 100 people dead or missing.  (Source: AP)