Shimulia-Banglabazar ghat witnesses large crowd
BI Report || BusinessInsider
Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj experienced a mad rush on Monday as people started returning to their workplaces in Dhaka after celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. Photo: A local correspondent
Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj experienced a mad rush on Monday as people started returning to their workplaces in Dhaka after celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr.
People of at least 21 districts started thronging the Shimulia ferry landing port this morning in a bid to reach Dhaka, a local correspondent of the Business Insider Bangladesh reports from the spot.
At the same time, the home-bound people were also seen gathering at the Banglabazar ghat in Madaripur on the fourth day of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
At least 87 launches, over 400 speed boats and around 200 trawlers were engaged in operating their services to ease the pressure of the Dhaka-bound people, local sources said.
While visiting Shimulia ghat early Monday, the correspondent saw flocks of people crossing the mighty river Padma by boarding launches. Many of them were seen without wearing masks and maintaining health guidelines.
After getting off the ferries, they were heading towards Dhaka by boarding different modes of vehicles like motorcycle, CNG-run three-wheeler, car and truck.
The people were seen paying Tk150 to Tk200 to reach Dhaka against the actual transport cost of Tk70.
Shafiqul Islam, assistant general manager of Shimulia ghat, said all modes of water transports except ferry have been kept closed in line with the directives of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
The pressure of Dhaka-bound people at the ferry ghat took an uncontrolled turn and thus police and local administration are trying to bring the situation under control, he said.
Earlier, the BIWTC suspended daytime ferry services on Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Banglabazar routes as per government instructions to curb the spread of coronavirus infection ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, three ferries were selected to transport ambulances and hearse vehicles.
Earlier on May 12, five people were killed and 50 others injured while getting off overcrowded ferries on the Padma River bank amid the home-going rush ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr at the ferry terminal.
