Desk Report: Dhaka-bound people from the southwestern districts are facing immense sufferings due to long tailbacks at Daulatdia-Paturia ferry ghat in Goalondo and Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry ghat at Shibchar in Madaripur, reports Daily Sun.
Passengers are being compelled to wait at the ferry terminals for three to six hours due to disruption in ferry services, sources said.
Hundreds of buses, trucks and other vehicles were seen stuck in long tailbacks at both of these major ferry terminals.
Ferry ghat officials blamed post-Eid pressures of vehicular movements, lack of navigability and strong currents in the river for the long tailbacks.
Passenger buses were stranded at Daulatdia-Paturia ferry ghat for hours, creating huge sufferings to the passengers. Hot and humid weather mounted the sufferings.
More ferries have been pressed into service on this route after Eid-ul-Azha to ease the pressure, but it’s getting difficult to cope with the rush, said sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) office in Daulatdia.
As the country’s important waterways, this route connects 21 southwestern districts with the capital.
“In general, 16 ferries ply on this route, but a total of 21 ferries have been running on this route for last three days,” Shafiqul Islam, manager of BIWTA Daulatdia office, said.
“Due to the pressure of vehicles on this route, five to six-kilometre tailback was created on Daulatdia-Khulna highway on Monday morning.
Moreover, there has been a sharp rise of water in the Padma, he said.
“Due to the rise in water level, all ferries have to ply three kilometre extra, taking almost double of the normal time,” he said.
The driver of a Dhaka-bound bus from Magura said he was trapped in a long queue since Monday morning.
“But if someone buys a ferry ticket with some extra money through local influential brokers, he can cross the river early,” he alleged.
Kamrunnahar, a passenger of Golden line paribahan plying between Faridpur and Dhaka, alleged that she and her children had to wait at Daulatdia ferry ghat for around four hours for a ferry on Monday morning.
“Our sufferings knew no bound,” Kamrunnahar said. She also blamed the ghat’s mismanagement for the long tailback.
Similar situation was also seen at Kathalbari-Shimulia ghat.
Several hundred vehicles, mostly passenger buses, got stuck at Kathalbari point on Monday morning, causing huge sufferings to the Dhaka-bound passengers.
Ferry movement is being disrupted on this ferry ghat due to lack of navigability, BIWTA sources said.
Tens of thousands of people left the capital to celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha festival at their ancestral homes with their near and dear ones.
The second largest religious festival of the Muslims was celebrated across the country on August 22.