Ferry operations in two major routes including Kathalbari-Shimulia and Paturia-Daulatdia are often halted due to poor navigability, naval crisis and heavy current in the Padma River. As a result intolerable sufferings to the passengers of various districts of the country have become regular.
Besides, a long tailback is seen on both the sides of the River with tears in the eyes of the passengers.
Ferry operations along the Kathalbari-Shimulia route have been halted due to poor navigability as well as naval crisis, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.
BIWTC Marine Officer Ahmed Ali said the ferry is unable to cruise due to the crisis. As a result ferry has been closed since Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, BIWTC’s Kanthalbari Ghat Manager Abdul Alim said ferry would not be possible until the channel’s navigability was fully restored.
Sources said the authorities suspended ferry after a vessel got stuck in a shoal last Thursday. However, launch and speedboat operations remain unaffected.
BIWTA’s dredging Authority at Shimulia Ghat said three dredgers are working to remove silt from the Padma Bridge channel to alleviate the naval crisis. However, it is uncertain when this channel will be active.
As many as 18 ferries regularly cruise the Shimulia-Kathalbari waterway, according to Abdul Alim, Manager of BIWTC’s Kathalbari terminal.
But around 200 speedboats and 87 launches are ready to transport passengers across the river, said Akhter Hossain, Traffic Inspector at BIWTA’s Kathalbari jetty.
The disruption, has created a long tailback at the terminal, with nearly 400 goods-laden trucks and vehicles waiting to cross the river, according to
the authorities.
Hundreds of vehicles and passengers are similarly stranded at the other end of the route in Shimulia, according to BIWTC’s AGM Shafiqul Islam.
“Since August 30, a limited number of ferries were operating along the Padma Bridge’s channel. The channel was also been closed due to navigability crisis around 9 am on Thursday. Now the ferry services are completely closed. The passengers are suffering greatly,” he said.
Meanwhile around 600 loaded trucks are waiting in queues at Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal to cross the Padma River.
Buses and private cars are being transported on priority basis as a result many trucks have been struck at the ferry terminal.
Ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia route in the Padma River have also been disrupted due to strong wave and poor navigability.
On the other hand, pressure on Paturia-Daulatdia route has been increased as ferry services on the Padma River’s Shimulia-Kathalbari route have been suspended for an indefinite period.
Shibalaya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Firoz Kabir said buses and private cars are being transported on priority basis, as a result many trucks have been stuck at the ferry terminal.
18 ferries out of 19 are being operated and about 400 loaded trucks are waiting in queues to cross the river, said Md Salam Hossain, Manager of Paturia Ferry Ghat of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).
