Launch, ferry, and speedboat services were shut down on Wednesday on Paturia-Daulatdia, Aricha-Kazirhat, and Shimulia-Kathalbari routes due to bad weather and strong currents in Padma River.
In Manikganj, launch services have been suspended on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes.
“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 may cause launches to capsize or collide out in the river.”
Launch services will resume once 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.
File photo: File photo of a ferry on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route | Dhaka Tribune
However, ferry operations on the Paturia-Daulatdia route are operating as usual. Thus, passengers arriving at the ghat are getting the opportunity 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 run on this route every day. Due to rough weather, the services have slowed, he added.
In Munshiganj, launch and speedboat services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route in the Padma River have been halted due to bad weather.
Besides, plying of ferries has been disrupted on Shimulia-Kathalbari route due to strong currents in the Padma River.
The BIWTC authorities suspended the services at 11am due to strong currents in the Padma River to avert any further untoward incident, confirmed Md Soleman, traffic inspector at Shimulia terminal.
Launch and speedboat services will resume once the weather conditions improve, he added.
“Currently, four ferries are operational but due to rough weather, the services have slowed,” he said.
Launch services suspended on internal Barisal routes
In Barisal, authorities suspended launch services on the internal routes, reports UNB.
Photo: 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 local 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 in the last 24 hours due to depression in the Bay.
Maritime ports have been asked to hoist local cautionary signal no 3, he said.
