Staff Reporter :
Ferry services on Shimulia-Kanthalbari route of the Padma River under Lauhajang upazila were suspended on Saturday afternoon due to poor navigability.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended the ferry services
around 5pm as it became impossible to ply ferries on the route, its Assistant General Manager Khandaker Shah Khaled Newaz said. He said, the channel has now only 5 feet water whereas it requires a depth of 7-8 feet.
Mentioning that dredging work is underway in the river to bring back the navigability, Newaz said they are not sure when the channel will be fit for the ferry services again.
He said, they have requested the vehicles to use alternative Paturia-Daulatdia route.
The BIWTC official also said they were sending four ferries, including three Ro-Ro ones, to Paturia from Shimulia.
Over 500 vehicles remained stuck at both sides of the route, creating long tailbacks and causing sufferings to hundreds of passengers.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the ferry services will inflict untold sufferings on the homebound people of the southern districts who will go home to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones.
Besides, the VVIPs who usually use this route for going to Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay respects to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman might face trouble in doing so marking his death anniversary on August 15.
Ferry services on Shimulia-Kanthalbari route of the Padma River under Lauhajang upazila were suspended on Saturday afternoon due to poor navigability.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended the ferry services
around 5pm as it became impossible to ply ferries on the route, its Assistant General Manager Khandaker Shah Khaled Newaz said. He said, the channel has now only 5 feet water whereas it requires a depth of 7-8 feet.
Mentioning that dredging work is underway in the river to bring back the navigability, Newaz said they are not sure when the channel will be fit for the ferry services again.
He said, they have requested the vehicles to use alternative Paturia-Daulatdia route.
The BIWTC official also said they were sending four ferries, including three Ro-Ro ones, to Paturia from Shimulia.
Over 500 vehicles remained stuck at both sides of the route, creating long tailbacks and causing sufferings to hundreds of passengers.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the ferry services will inflict untold sufferings on the homebound people of the southern districts who will go home to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with their near and dear ones.
Besides, the VVIPs who usually use this route for going to Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay respects to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman might face trouble in doing so marking his death anniversary on August 15.
