Shimulia-Kawrakandi ferry service resumes after 32 days
Ferry service on the Shimulia-Kawrakandi river route resumed yesterday, 32 days after it was halted for poor navigability.
All 16 ferries, including four Ro Ro ferries, resumed usual operation through Lauhajang turning point in the afternoon.
Md Gias Uddin, manager (business) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said the ferry service was halted for more than one month due to poor navigability and strong current in the Padma River.
However, the authorities, considering the troubles of home-bound passengers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, decided to speed up river dredging by stopping ferry service completely from September 11 to 15.
Md Shamsuzzaman, additional police superintendent (ASP) of Sreenagar Circle, said all goods-laden vehicles, especially trucks, were stopped yesterday in Chanbari area, some 10 kilometers off Shimulia for safe passage of home-bound people.
However, if there are few passenger vehicles, the trucks loaded with emergency goods would be transported, he added.
Some 300 members of law enforcement agencies will be on duty for the safety of the passengers, the ASP added.
Md Sultan Ahmed Khan, executive engineer (dredging) of BIWTC, said Lauhajang turning point was opened for ferry service on September 15. But the ferry service was disrupted as the ferries collided with the dredgers, putting them at risk.
The dredger was shifted from Lauhajang turning point yesterday, leaving a safe passage for ferry service.
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