Shimulia-Kathalbari: Strong currents in Padma halt ferry services at night-time

The authorities have been forced to suspend operations of ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route at night for the last one month due to strong currents in the Padma.

Ferry services are running only during daytime to avoid any accidents, Shafiqul Islam, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Shimulia, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Disruption to ferry services causes sufferings of people of the 21 southern districts who use the route to enter and leave the capital.

The mighty Padma devoured a portion of the approach road to a ferry terminal at Shimulia on Thursday morning. Later, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) dumped geo-bags in the erosion-prone area that helped reduce the effects of erosion.

Another ferry terminal was damaged before Eid.

People crowded in Kathalbari area to cross the river yesterday, the first weekend after Eid as many holidaymakers were returning to the capital.

Now, two ferry terminals out of four are in operation. Eight ferries of 17 are operating on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route.

Shafayet Ahmed, BIWTC manager at Shimulia, said three large and two small ferries were plying the route, and heavy currents in the river were hampering ferry services.

Harif Ahmed, BIWTA assistant engineer at Shimulia, said around 15,000 geo-bags were dumped to prevent the river erosion at Shimulia. At least seven acres out of 29.3 acres of land at Shimulia went under water, he added.