The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on Tuesday started ferry services to carry motorcycles on Shimulia-Banglabazar route on Padma River.
The first ferry “Kalmilota'' left Shimulia ferry terminal number four in Munshiganj with 169 motorcycles for Shariatpur's Majhikandi at 6:50am on Tuesday.
BIWTC's Shimulia Terminal Manager (Trade) Jamal Hossain said that during Eid journey, the people of southern part of Bangladesh from different parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, will return home via Shimulia terminal.
Due to the suspension of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge, two medium ferries are being used to carry motorcycles on the Shimulia-Majhikandi route to ease the suffering of passengers.
Although the ferry was supposed to leave every three hours, the second ferry “Kunjalta” left Shimulia for Shariatpur's Majhikandi at around 9am.
The fare was fixed at Tk150 for motorcycle crossing and Tk30 for passenger crossing. If the pressure increases, the number of ferries will be increased.
Motorcycles will be transported on ferries subject to need and until further notice after Eid.
After the inauguration of the Padma Bridge on June 25, 2022, the ferry service was suspended on the route.
