The holidaymakers are enjoying a hassle-free travel back to their native villages in the southern part of the country as rush of vehicles at Paturia ferry terminal picked up on Thursday morning.
Due to the government’s decision to stop the use of motorcycle ferries, the number of motorcycles crossing Padma River was less than usual.
Despite the ban, more than 3,500 motorcycles have crossed the Paturia ferry terminal in the last 24 hours, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha Area Office Deputy General Manager (Commerce) Shah Md Khaled Newaz.
Besides, as many as 6,500 long-distance passenger coaches, freight trucks and other vehicles have crossed the ferry terminal.
With the opening of the Padma Bridge, the number of passengers and vehicles at Paturia ferry terminal is relatively low. The opposite situation was the case during last Eid.
Long-distance passenger coaches are boarding the ferries as soon as they arrive at the terminal.
According to BIWTC and police sources, a large number of motorcycles crossed the ferry in the early hours of the morning. The situation changed completely as the day progressed.
Due to official restrictions on motorcycle crossings and extensive preparations by police, the number of motorcyclists on the highways decreased dramatically as the day progressed.
Ibrahim Musa, a passenger of the Golden Line bus, who was waiting at ferry number three in Paturia around 11am said he used to go to his house in Faridpur’s Alfadanga every Eid through this terminal and he had to wait five to six hours in Paturia.
“I had to suffer unbearably but this time the situation is completely different. Shortly after arriving at the terminal, the bus carrying us got on the ferry. I didn't think I would get a chance to board the ferry so fast,” he said.
The pressure of the cargo truck was also low in the ferry terminal area. There were 50 cargo vehicles at the two truck terminals in Paturia.