Ferry services suspended on Aricha Kazirhat route

Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route have been suspended owing to poor navigability, leaving 300 goods-laden vehicles stranded on the river.

Nasir Mohammad Chowdhury, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at the Aricha point, said several ferries were stuck on hidden shoals on Friday due to the poor navigability in the Padma River, forcing the authorities to halt ferry services multiple times.

But, due to the navigability crisis, ferries have gotten stuck on sandbars a short distance away from the Aricha Port over the past few days. Even after that, ferry authorities shifted to taking half-laden ferries and making the trips in risky conditions.

However, the channel has become even narrower now as the river water continues to recede.

DGM Nasir said that ferry service has been suspended from time to time due to the navigability crisis. Now the route will be closed until the crisis eases.
Passengers using the route and the drivers of freight vehicles will have to suffer as the disruption of the ferry service forces them to make alternate travel plans.

>.Lutfor Rahman in Manikganj