Shimulia-Banglabazar ferry services resume after 3 hours

Ferry services between Munshiganj's Shimulia and Madaripur's Banglabazar have resumed after three hours of suspension due to stormy weather and strong current in Padma river.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended the ferry services on the route at 12:00pm, fearing accident due to the rough weather.

The services resumed around 3:00pm after the situation improved, reports our Munshiganj correspondent.

Due to the suspension, around 600 vehicles got stuck on both sides.

Shafayet Ahmed, manager of BIWTC Shimulia ghat, said ferry operations started, on a limited scale, after three hours of suspension. Seven ferries are operating now to transport the passengers and vehicles.

Around 300 transports including ambulances, goods-carrying trucks and vehicles providing emergency services got stuck at Shimulia ghat, he said.

Before the suspension, the ferries were seen carrying passengers who were not maintaining required distancing, violating the government instruction.  

Asked, the manager said the passengers were boarding the ferries forcefully. But the authorities are trying to make them follow the health rules.