Ferry service restored partially

Vehicles waiting in a long queue at Paturia ferry ghat in Manikganj to board a K type ferry as Ro Ro ferry service was interrupted due to silted riverbed Friday. Photo: Star

Ferry service on the Daulatdia-Paturia route on the river Padma was restored partially on Friday evening after a 10-hour suspension.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) halted the operation of all 10 Ro Ro ferries around 8:30am after Ro Ro ferry Keramat Ali got stuck in a hidden shoal in the river, said Biddyut Kumar Saha, BIWTC manager (commerce) at Aricha.

The official said three Ro Ro ferries have started plying with half load of its capacity due to low navigation since 6:30pm, reports our correspondent in Manikganj.

Besides, three K type ferries have been transporting vehicles across the river loading half of its capacity minutes after the suspension, he added.

Visiting the spot, BIWTC Chairman Mojibar Rahman said a Ro Ro ferry normally needs seven to eight feet water in the channel where it is now only five to six feet.

BIWTA Chairman Dr Shamsuddoha Khondaker, who also visited the spot, told journalists that they could be able to make the channel navigable by Monday as they were dredging it with three dredgers.

A new channel would be created adjacent to the main channel by the time, he added.

Hundreds of vehicles including trucks and busses were queued up on both sides of Padma.

Ferry Keramat Ali remain aground with four buses and 19 other small vehicles in the middle of the river on Daulatdia channel when the report was filed around 6:00pm.