Aricha-Kazirhat, Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services resume

Ferry movement on the Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia routes resumed hours after the services were suspended this morning due to dense fog,

According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha Regional Office, services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were halted at 5:20am. A Ro-Ro ferry, Khanjahan Ali, remains stranded in the middle of the Padma river with passengers and vehicles onboard.

Additionally, three other ferries -- Chitra, Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman, and Dhansiri -- are docked at Aricha Ghat in Manikganj, while two others -- Shah Ali and Kishani -- are anchored at Kazirhat Ghat in Pabna.

The service resumed at 8:30am after fog disappeared, sources said.

Similarly, operations on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were suspended at 6:30am due to thick fog at the Paturia end in Shivaloy upazila of Manikganj.

Two ferries -- Hasnahena and Keramat Ali -- are stuck mid-river with passengers and vehicles.

Meanwhile, seven ferries -- Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman, Golam Maula, Banalata, Shah Paran, Bir Shrestha Jahangir, Cumilla, and Bagair -- are waiting at Paturia Ghat for loading and unloading.

Two more ferries -- Faridpur and Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin -- are tied to pontoons at the same location, according to Abdus Salam, assistant general manager of Paturia Ghat, BIWTC.

The ferry services on the route were restored around 8:00am, he said.