Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services halt

MANIKGANJ, Sept 4: Rapid formation of underwater shoals and fierce currents in the Padma forced to suspend ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia route since Monday night leaving hundreds of vehicles waiting on either side.

The ferry services were disrupted from 9:45 pm on Monday, as a Ro-Ro ferry named Bir Shreshtha Motiur Ranman carrying vehicles and passengers got stuck in an underwater shoal at Daulatdia, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Aricha sector Bidyut Kumar Saha said.

Although rescue vessel IT 394 salvaged the ferry after 12 hours at around 7:00 am on Tuesday, services could not be restored due to siltation, submerged shoals, strong currents and low water level in the two river channels, he added.

Bidyut said around 600 heavy and light vehicles, mostly trucks, were waiting on either side yesterday afternoon.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), responsible for ensuring navigability by dredging channels, says the situation cannot be improved until the middle of this month, as dredging had to be stopped on Sunday due to the currents near Daulatdia terminal.

However, most of the buses are running on Jamuna Bridge for the last two days to avoid traffic jam at Paturia and Daulatdia.

Four ferries were shifted from the route to Mawa terminal, as many vehicles had been also taking that route.

Meanwhile, accompanied by the BIWTA and BIWTC chairmen, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan visited Paturia and Daulatdia terminals Tuesday evening.

The ministry of shipping has taken all-out efforts to restore ferry services on Paturia- Daulatdia route fully, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said.

risingbd/ASB