Ferry services on Daulatdia-Paturia route which remained suspended since Monday due to poor navigability and strong current in the river Padma could not be restored till Wednesday evening.
Over 400 vehicles, including goods-laden trucks, remained stuck in queue on both sides of the ghats (terminals). Launches were seen plying the route taking risk. Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Shahajahan Khan, BIWTC Chairman Mojibar Rahman, BIWTA Chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker and other senior officials concerned visited the route on Tuesday night.
The minister asked officials concerned to operate ferries on alternative routes until normalcy return to the busy channel. In another development, three ferries– Khanjahan Ali, Enayetpuri and Shahporan—operating on the channel were shifted to Mawa-Kawrakandi route.
Tariqul Hasan, executive engineer of dredging section of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said they were facing difficulties to dredge the channel due to fierce current. “It is uncertain when the situation will return to normalcy,” he said. – UNB
