Ferry services resume partially on Shimulia-Kathalbari route

The ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route in the Padma river under Lauhajang upazila of Munshiganj resumed today in a limited scale six hours after the services was halted last night due to poor navigability.

Only nine out of 18 ferries were plying on the route after an alternative channel at Louhajang turning point was opened this morning after dredging, said M Nasir Uddin, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).

The ferries need more time on the alternative route to cross the river, said Nasir Uddin adding that the level of silt on the river route is being removed by five dredgers to mitigate the navigability crisis.  

Around 400 vehicles including good-laden trucks remained stuck and the passengers were suffering immensely at Shimulia, the entry point to 21 districts of the country, our Munshiganj correspondent said.

The ferry movement was suspended from 11:55pm due to poor navigability, affecting people from 21 districts and resulting in long tailbacks, our Munshiganj correspondent reports quoting the official.

Homebound passengers on the occasion of Eid may also face difficulties following the problem, the BIWTC official said.

Meanwhile, the authorities managed to rescue a ferry, which got stuck in a shoal in the Padma river, after seven hours of hectic effort, said AKM Shahjahan Khan, manager of BIWTC in Shimulia Ghat.