Ferry hits Padma bridge pillar again
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority is mulling over the relocation of the Banglabazar ferry terminal in Madaripur to another area as ferries continued to collide with the pillars of the under-construction Padma bridge.
A BIWTA committee was formed in this regard after the first such collision in July.
Yesterday, a ferry named Kakoli hit a pillar on the route from the Banglabazar terminal to Munshiganj's Shimulia terminal.
This is the fourth time a pillar was hit by a ferry on the route in just one month.
Commodore Golam Sadeq, chairman of the BIWTA, yesterday told The Daily Star that they will ultimately have to shift the Banglabazar terminal to Shariatpur's Mazhighat area once the bridge comes into operation.
"But to make the shift, they have to develop land for vehicles in the new terminal and construct connecting roads and to do so, the state minister for shipping and other top officials visited the spot today [yesterday]."
Replying to a question, he said no final decision was taken to shift the terminal immediately.
On August 9, a Birshrestha Jahangir ferry plying the route hit the same pillar.
Md Badal Hosen, an official of Shimulia ferry terminal, said the incident occurred due to strong winds and currents in the river.
He added that no passenger or vehicle was harmed and the ferry was taken to Shimulia terminal's workshop for repair work.
The frequent collisions prompted Obaidul Quader, road transport and bridges minister, and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, to visit the Padma bridge yesterday.
Quader, while visiting the Mawa end of the bridge, told reporters that with this incident, this is the fourth time a ferry hit a pillar in one month.
"It will be a mistake if we take it lightly or treat it as an incapacity of the ferry master. We need to find out if there is any conspiracy behind it. I will request the Bangladesh Army [who is looking over the bridge's construction project] to look into the matter in depth."
He said they would sit together to discuss the frequent hits.
While visiting the Shimulia end of the bridge, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said there was indifference to abiding by instructions necessary to avoid hitting pillars.
"The incidents are being investigated. Weakness and irresponsibility are also being examined. Action will be taken against those who acted irresponsibly."
The army, in a meeting with other stakeholders in Shariatpur's Jajira cantonment yesterday, said they decided to put rubber tyres around the pillars to stave off damages from future collisions.
Syed Md Tajul Islam, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, who took part in the meeting, confirmed the decision to The Daily Star.
"Measures will soon be taken to implement the decision," he said, adding that CCTVs will be set up on each pillar.
The meeting also decided to remain alert and ensure that overloaded ferries aren't being operated on the route as heavy load may cause the ferry to lose control, leading to more such accidents.
A few new ferries will also be brought to modernise the fleet, he added.
The Shimulia-Banglabazar ferry route is considered the gateway to 21 southern districts.
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