Waterways travel suspended on several routes

27 Aug 2020 10:32 AM
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Launch, ferry, and speedboat services were shut down on Wednesday on Paturia-Daulatdia, Aricha-Kazirhat, and Shimulia-Kathalbari routes because of inclement weather and strong currents in Padma River.

In Manikganj, launch services have been suspended on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes.

“In order to avoid any untoward incident, the authorities suspended launch services from 9am Wednesday,” confirmed Faridul Alam, assistant director (Traffic) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

He said: “Strong currents prevailing in the Padma River could cause launches to capsize or collide out in the river.”

Launch services will resume after the weather conditions improve, he added.

A total of 33 launches-22 between Paturia and Daulatdia and 11 between Aricha and Kazirhat-usually runs on these two routes.

However, ferry businesses on the Paturia-Daulatdia route are operating as usual. Thus, passengers coming to the ghat are receiving the possibility to cross the river on ferries.

M Zillur Rahman, deputy general manager of the Aricha office of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said a total of 17 ferries operate on this route every day. Because of rough weather, the services have slowed, he added.

In Munshiganj, launch and speedboat services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route in the Padma River have already been halted due to inclement weather.

Besides, plying of ferries has been disrupted on Shimulia-Kathalbari route because of strong currents in the Padma River.

The BIWTC authorities suspended the services at 11am because of strong currents in the Padma River to avert any more untoward incident, confirmed Md Soleman, traffic inspector at Shimulia terminal.

Launch and speedboat services will resume once the climate improve, he added.

“Currently, four ferries are operational but because of rough weather, the services have slowed,” he said.

Launch services suspended on internal Barisal routes

In Barisal, authorities suspended launch services on the inner routes, reports UNB.

Mohammad Shahidul Islam, assistant director of River-Safety and Traffic Management Department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said the launch services on all internal routes of Barisal remained suspended from Wednesday morning.

Besides, the neighborhood Met Office asked to hoist cautionary signal No 2 at the river port.

Lakshmipur-bound launches returned to Barisal Riverport due to bad weather.

Mahfuzur Rahan, a meteorologist of Barisal Division Met Office, said they recorded 2mm rainfall within the last 24 hours due to depression in the Bay.

Maritime ports have already been asked to hoist local cautionary signal no 3, he said. 

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