Shimulia-Banglabazar: ‘Technical glitch’ halts ferry service

Ferry services between Shimulia and Banglabazar were suspended for over two hours yesterday morning when a motorcade of the BNP was supposed to go across the Padma river.

BNP leaders and activists, who were on the way to a rally in Barishal, then left their vehicles and hired boats to go across the river.

The authorities concerned said there was a technical issue, but BNP leaders said the services have been suspended around 8:00am just to prevent them from joining the rally.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people, including transport workers, suffered as they had to wait on both sides of the river.

The BNP has been holding rallies over the last few days in the capital and different districts.

The party on February 14 made announcements of the rally in Barishal where it would demand fair elections.

Twenty-five vehicles carrying BNP leaders and activists reached Shimulia Ferry Terminal around 8:30am.

"We found no ferry at Shimulia terminal. We were told the ferries were in Bangla Bazar. Our vehicles could not go across the river," said Ishraque Hossain, a member of BNP International Affairs Committee.

"The offices of the authorities concerned at Shimulia terminal were closed," he told reporters, adding that the partymen could not ask anyone what was going on.

"The ferry services were suspended due to a technical issue," said Shafiqul Islam, deputy general manager (Shimulia terminal) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).

Shafayet Ahmed, who is the manager, said out of 13 ferries, 11 were in operation yesterday morning.

Of the 11, three were moored at Banglabazar and eight were on the river at the time. "That is why they did not find any ferry at Shimulia."

But everything became normal around 10:00am, he informed.

However, a BITWC official, seeking anonymity, told The Daily Star that they received a message on their phones the previouis night with instructions to suspend the ferry services.

The official didn't give further details.

Around 700 vehicles were subjected to a tailback at Shimulia due to the suspension, said Helal Uddin, in-charge of Mawa Traffic Police outpost.

The BNP held the rally on Barishal Zila School premises where BNP Vice-chairman Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed spoke as the chief guest.

However, groups of activists threw chairs at each other and scuffled as they quarrelled over front row seats at the rally.

BNP leaders urged people to launch a movement against the government to restore people's right to vote.

[Our correspondents from Munishiganj and Barishal contributed to the report]