Dhaka-bound people throng Shimulia ferry ghat

Abul Kashem along with his wife and daughter arrived Shimulia ghat from Shibchar in Madaripur around 10:00 am on Saturday (July 31). They were sitting at Shimulia Mor for vehicles to reach Dhaka. They reside at Malibag in the capital.

Auto rickshaws were asking for Tk 400 for per person from Shimulia to Postagola Bridge. They have to pay Tk 1,200 as fare. But Abul Kashem has only Tk 800/900. As a result, they were sitting on the road.

Kalim Bepauri came from Jhalakathi as his office is set to resume from Sunday (August 1). He was also sitting on the road. Later, he shared a motorcycle with another man on the way to Dhaka. He had to pay Tk 700 for this.

Hundreds of thousands of people arrived in Shimulia ghat after crossing the ferry since the morning. No vehicle was found there to reach Dhaka after landing at the ferry ghat. With the uncertainty, some were leaving by auto, some by motorcycle while some on foots.

From Kadamtali to Postagola Bridge, the fare was asked for Tk 600 to Tk 700 per person for motorcycle ride per person. Two passengers are being taken on each motorcycle without maintaining the hygiene rules. Three people including the driver were riding on a motorcycle. Every auto is getting 8 to 10 people and charging Tk 300 to Tk 400 per person. Besides, open pick-up was taking Tk 200 for every person. 

The distance from Mawa ferry (Shimulia) ghat to Chaumuhani (below the Padma Bridge) is 3 kilometers. There were seen long lines of millions of people across the road. People from different districts of the south region including Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Gopalganj, Khulna, Barguna are not able to get any vehicle to reach Dhaka after crossing the ferry in the morning.

People in group are walking slowly towards Dhaka. They also carrying bags on hands and shoulders.  After a while, they were taking rest. With an interval, they were moving towards Dhaka. 

Meanwhile, the children were found that they were not able to walk. How long will parents walk with their children on their shoulders? So the children were crying because they cannot stand the long walk. The suffering of the elderly was no less than that of the children. Their condition was also deplorable. They were looking for Dhaka-bound vehicles with anxious eyes.

The mills and factories are set to reopen from Sunday (August 1). After this announcement, thousands of working people are returning to workplace from their village homes. They left Mawa on their way to Dhaka after enduring indescribable hardships.

Dhaka-returnees said, “It was said before Eid that the mills would be opened after the lockdown is over. So we are asked stay where were are until the lockdown is over.”

They also said, “the decision to reopen the mills in the midst of a strict lockdown is nothing but a joke with the workers. The factories are being reopened keeping public transport suspended. They raised a question ‘How will we return to Dhaka in this situation?”

Amin Mia, who came from Faridpur, said that he came to Shimulia ferry ghat somehow after walking about 30 km from home and by auto. He was also not getting any vehicle to reach Dhaka after crossing the ferry.

With deep grief, Many Dhaka returnees said, “Where will we go if the government does not become kind to the workers? The lockdown will continue as well as the factories will be reopened. The workers are feeling helpless as a result of such dualistic behavior. This joke should be stopped.”