News Desk :
Authorities have suspended ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar and Shimulia-Majhirkandi routes since early Thursday due to poor visibility owing to dense winter fog.
Md Shahadat Hossain, Shimulia port officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said the ferry services were halted from 2.30 am due to poor visibility. “Four ferries have been anchored, while some 250 vehicles also got stuck due to the suspension of services,” said the officer.
Meanwhile, launch and speedboat operations on the two routes have also been suspended since Thursday morning due to poor visibility. Around 87 launches and 101 speed boats ply on these two routes. “The services will resume once visibility increases,” said the port officer.
Manikganj Correspondent reported that commuters waiting to cross the Padma river had a harrowing time Thursday morning, with the authorities suspending ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route due to dense fog.
Abdus Salam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha point, said the ferry services were halted from 12 am owing to poor visibility. One ferry remained stranded in the middle of the Padma, while 11 more ferries were cancelled on the route, officials said. Several hundred vehicles also got stuck on both sides of the river due to the suspension of the ferry services, Abdus said. ”The services will resume once visibility increases,” he added. BIWTC sources said the services were halted for five to eight hours due to poor navigability on Wednesday night, and was resumed in a limited capacity around on Thursday noon. The Ro-Ro ferry services were also suspended for that reason. Officials said even launches and speedboats were prevented from traversing the channel, as several dredgers worked to restore navigability. As a result of the earlier stoppage, several hundred vehicles have become stuck on both sides of the river-creating long tailbacks and causing untold suffering to passengers on their way.
