Ferry services on two routes resume after 9-hour

Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia routes resumed after nine hours of disruption due to dense fog.

The ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were halted around 11.00pm last night (January 3) due to poor visibility caused by the dense fog.

According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), a ferry named 'Bir Shreshtha Matiur Rahman' got stuck in the middle of the river during the suspension.

Besides, the ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were suspended due to thick fog around 11:30pm last night.

Two ferries, 'Khan Jahan Ali' and 'Krishani', were stuck in the middle of the Padma River with passengers and vehicles.

Meanwhile, 13 ferries were stranded at the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha ghats, causing immense suffering to passengers.

Some 500 vehicles, including 400 goods-laden trucks, remained stranded on both sides of the two ferry routes.

Nasir Chowdhury, deputy general manager of BIWTC (Aricha regional office), confirmed this.

"As the fog disappeared, the ferry services on the two routes were restored around 8.00am and 8:30am, respectively," he said.

"Since ferry services began on both waterways, passenger vehicles are being prioritized and crossed first among those stuck at the ghats. Other vehicles, including trucks carrying goods, are being ferried in phases. To expedite the process, three additional ferries have been deployed to help clear the stranded vehicles more quickly."