Dense fog disrupting the ferry service on Shimulia-Kawrakandi route has heightened the misery of the passengers, with some 1,500 vehicles stuck on both sides till yesterday noon.
The vehicles are mostly freight trucks and lorries destined for different parts of the country, including the capital. There are also trucks loaded with raw materials and perishable goods.
The disruption, which caused a 6km tailback from Kawrakandi terminal to Haji Shariatullah bridge, occurred at three intervals since Tuesday night as ferry services remained halted for 36 hours till yesterday morning.
Thick fog has made it difficult to clearly see objects even just a few metres away.
The Dhaka-bound passengers coming from southern districts got stuck at Kawrakandi terminal. Some ferries were also stuck in the middle of the Padma River because of fog, compounding the woes of the passengers.
BIWTC Manager of Kawrakandi terminal Salam Hossain said they had no technology to prevent disruptions to ferry services caused by fog during winter.
“We have to suspend services to prevent possible accidents. The traffic congestion is just the result of this as the number of vehicles continues to grow on both sides of the terminal,” he said.
BIWTC Assistant Manager of Shimulia terminal Shekhar Chandra Roy said ferry services were suspended as fog had obstructed the view and the beacon lights were not distinctly visible.
“Ferries that got stuck in the mid-river were anchored, and will resume journey once the fog is cleared,” he added.
