News Desk :
Another Ro-Ro ferry has slammed into a pillar of the Padma Bridge just four days after a similar incident left five people injured to continue a trend that began three weeks ago.
The vessel, named ‘Kakoli’, was en route to Shimulia from Banglabazar when it collided with pillar No. 10 of the under-construction structure around 6:45 am on Friday, according to Dewan Abdul Quader, executive engineer of the bridge, reports bdnews24.com.
“Bits of concrete from the pile cap came off on impact. Although the damage was limited, such incidents are not acceptable.”
The ‘big’ collision sparked panic on the vessel as a vehilce on board bounced off another, while several passengers were knocked to the ground, said witnesses.
Ferry operator Badal Hossain said the vessel was supposed to pass through the piers 11 and 12 of the Padma Bridge. “But due to strong currents, the vessel lost control and struck the pillar No. 10. It left a crack on one side of the ferry but as it was above the water level, the vessel was not flooded inside.”
Badal said the ferry was later taken to the Shimulia terminal safely. No casualties were reported in the incident.
On Aug 9, two cars and a truck were damaged after the ferry ‘Bir Shreshtha Jahangir’ hit pillar No. 10 of the bridge.
In a similar incident on Jul 23, a ferry plying the same route hit pier No. 17 of the Padma Bridge.
Meanwhile, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury says ferries crashing into pillars of the under-constriction Padma Bridge again and again has left the government “uncomfortable”.
Any hit on the “dream bridge” feels like a “punch in the people’s hearts”, the state minister for shipping said after visiting the site of the latest collision on Friday.
“Ferryboats are striking the Padma Bridge spannings repeatedly. Although the collisions are mild, we’re not taking them lightly. We are embarrassed by these incidents.”
The ministry called a high-level meeting in the evening to discuss negligence in following instructions that were issued after the first collisions occurred, Khalid said.
Besides, the government has decided to shift a ferry ghat following the collision of a ferry with Padma Bridge pillar early Friday morning.
The Ministry of Shipping has also decided not to operate Ro-Ro ferries on Banglabazar-Shimulia route until the shifting of ferry ghat.
The decision has been taken in the wake of collision with Padma Bridge pillars four times consecutively
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury stated this on Friday.
Bangladesh Insland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) chairman Syed Md Tajul Islam said whirlpools created by strong currents in the river Padma are responsible for collision between ferries and pillars.
“The government has decided to shift Banglabazar Ghat to avert Padma Bridge on the way of movement of ferries. The ghat will be shifted to Majhirkandi Ghat under Janjira upazila in Shariatpur district. It will require one to one and a half months,” he said.
