Staff Reporter :
The mad rush of South Bengal-bound people have swarmed to on the Shimulia ferry terminal at Lohajang of Munshiganj.
With the lockdown and Eid ahead, intense pressure of passengers has been seen on the Shimulia-Banglabazar water route.
On Sunday morning, people were seen running in various ways on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway towards South Bengal.
Due to the traffic crisis on the road, they are going to Shimulia Ghat by different small vehicles and motorcycles.
Passengers were also crossing the Padma river by trawlers risking their lives from several spots of Lohajang and Srinagar. As the bus is closed, the homebound people were rushing to their destination paying several times more fare.
Every vehicle has to pass the police check post. No vehicle is being allowed to enter or exit Dhaka without urgent need.
BIWTC Shimulia Ghat Assistant Manager (Commerce) Faisal Ahmed said, at present, there are 16 ferries operating on the route due to huge pressure of homebound people. A long queue of vehicles was also seen near the ghat for crossing the river.”
Despite the ban on human movement, passengers are gathering at the ferry ghats, he added.
Zakir Hossain, in-Charge of Mawa Traffic Police, said that we are requesting the passengers to follow the lockdown instructions.
But passengers are coming to the ghat from Dhaka in different ways. The passengers are also coming from Banglabazar Ghat for going to Dhaka, Zakir added.
It was seen on the spot that thousands of homeless people are suffering due to non-operation of any type of vehicle. So they are going to the destination on foot. Even then, there is a strict search by the police. Ignoring these obstacles, people are gathering at the Shimulia ferry terminal and they are sitting on a ferry dock whenever they see an opportunity.
Meanwhile, the district administration and the police administration, including the ferry authorities, have urged people to stay where they are.
Earlier, the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday recommended imposing a “nationwide shutdown” for two weeks considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
