DHAKA, Feb 28 (Reuters) - At least 31 people died when a ferry was hit by a cargo vessel loaded with sand on Thursday and capsized in a river near the Bangladesh capital, police and witnesses said.

Here is a chronology of some of the major ferry accidents that have killed thousands of people in Bangladesh since 1986.

1986

April 20 - At least 200 people killed when the ferry Atlas Star sinks during a storm on the Sitalakya river.

May 25 - 600 people killed when the ferry Samia overturns in the Meghna river during a storm.

1988

Dec. 27 - At least 200 die when ferry Haisal sinks on the river Dhaleswari after being rammed by a cargo vessel.

1990

Jan. 28 - Between 100 and 150 people presumed drowned after a ferry carrying 200 people collides with vessel in thick fog.

1994

Aug. 20 - More than 200 people die after an overcrowded ferry sinks in a whirlpool in the Meghna river.

1996

Jan. 1 - Up to 50 people are feared drowned when a small ferry capsizes in the Meghna after being struck by an oil tanker.

June 14 - At least 50 people are believed drowned after a ferry carrying 250 passengers capsizes in the Dhanu river northeast of Dhaka.

June 23 - Nearly 50 people are feared drowned after a ferry carrying about 200 passengers sinks in the Jamuna river.

June 28 - Scores drown after a ferry with at least 150 people on board capsizes near Sandwip island in the Bay of Bengal during a storm.

1998

March 14 - Twenty people are killed and at least 30 others missing after two ferries sink during a storm.

1999

May 8 - The M.V. Dwipkanya sinks in a whirlpool during a storm near Lakhsmipur. Between 100 and 300 are believed drowned. The real toll was never determined because officials and survivors gave different numbers for those on board.

Aug. 5 - At least 20 people are feared drowned after a boat sinks in the Sitalakya river near Dhaka after a collision.

Dec. 11 - 63 people are killed and scores missing after a ferry with about 200 passengers sinks in Meghna river.

Dec. 17 - At least 15 people drown and scores are missing after a ferry carrying about 250 passengers capsizes on the river Buriganga near Dhaka.

2000

May 1 - At least 96 people drown and about 100 missing after two ferries capsize in a storm in the Meghna river.

Dec. 29 - At least 158 people killed and many left missing after a ferry carrying 400 passengers sinks in the Meghna.

2001

Nov. 29 - Nearly 100 people are feared drowned after a ferry carrying 130 passengers sinks in the Tentulia river.

2002

May 3 - At least 450 people drown when the M.V. Salahuddin-2 ferry with about 500 on board sinks in the Meghna river.

May 23 - More than 60 people are feared drowned after the M.L. Suraha sinks in a storm in southern Bangladesh.

2003

April 4 - At least 62 people killed and many left missing after ferry sinks in the Surma river in northeastern Bangladesh.

April 21 - Nearly 200 people die when two ferries sink in Buriganga and Meghna rivers during a storm.

July 9 - Up to 400 people feared drowned after a triple-deck ferry sinks in the river Meghna near Chandpur.

2004

May 23 - At least 200 die when two ferries sink in the Meghna near Chandpur.

2005

Feb. 21 - A total of 118 people die and more than 80 missing when a ferry sinks near Dhaka.

May 15 - At least 60 people killed and more than 30 missing after twin-deck ferry M.V. Prince of Patuakhali sinks on the Tentulia river at Galachipa during a storm.

May 23 (Reuters) - Bangladesh abandoned efforts late on Sunday to salvage a river ferry that sank with about 200 people on board during a storm five days ago. Only about 50 people survived the disaster. (Compiled by Nizam Ahmed)

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