Passengers suffer as ferry services suspended at Paturia ghat

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has suspended ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route in the Padma River in an effort to tackle the further spread of coronavirus in the country.

As a result of this, many passengers leaving for the southern part of the country have fallen in great trouble at Paturia ghat as they were unaware of the decision taken by the BIWTC authority.

Shibaloy upazila administration in Manikganj was seen to send back Paturia-bound private cars from the upazila’s Tepra bus stand since 6:00am today although many vehicles that came to Paturia ghat area earlier at night have already got stuck. Besides, many passengers were not aware of the closure of the ferry services.

Meanwhile, the ghat authority has made an arrangement for the crossing of stranded ambulances and emergency vehicles by three ferries around 12:00pm. Three ferries also carried more than a thousand passengers.

After visiting ghat areas from 9:00am to 12:30pm on Saturday (May 8), such pictures were found.

A passenger named Roksana Aktar said, “I along with my children arrived at the ghat around 8:00am to make my way to Jashore. Now, it is 11:30am but we could not cross the Paturia-Daulatdia route in the Padma River, causing great suffering to us.”

Rustam Mia, a private car driver, said, “I arrived at the ghat around 9:00am but could not cross the river due to the suspension of ferry services although it is now 12:00pm, which increased suffering.”