Passengers from 16 districts in the north are suffering because of a shortage of ferry service on the Lakshmipur – Bhola river route.
Kanakchapa, the ferry service on the Lakshmipur – Bhola river route, has been shifted to the Maowa – Keorakandi ferry ports, which is causing distress to the passengers home-bound for Eid, businessmen and transport workers.
There were three ferry services called Kanakchapa, Krishani and Kasturi on the Lakshmipur – Bhola route. At the advent of Eid the authority took away the Kanakchapa ferry service to Maowa – Keorakandi route, which didn’t have any effect initially, but later caused problems as the pressure of vehicles increased before Eid.
Every day, hundreds of vehicles carrying passengers and cargoes are getting stranded in that route.
Some passengers are risking their lives to cross Meghna by boats or trawlers. Besides these, some illegal speedboats are seen carrying passengers across the river. The passengers have to spend extra money for this, which is a burden for the people with lower income.
Truck drivers and businessmen said different raw materials and edible items get stale waiting at the ferry port.
Launch Terminal Assistant Mohammad Kamrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the pressure of vehicles gets very high before Eid, but with the Kanakchapa there, the problems would have alleviated. However, everything will be solved immediately, he also added.