Over 500 vehicles including nearly 80 buses have been waiting for the ferries at Shimulia terminal due to rough waters on the Padma River with homebound travellers crowding at the jetties.
Seventeen ferries, including a ro-ro ferry operated along the crossing on Monday (Aug 21).
“Unfavourable weather halted navigability of the ferries as well as launch operation throughout the night whereas 16 ferries including a ro-ro ferry are operating on the day (Tuesday),” BIWTA Shimulia Terminal’s Deputy General Manager Shah Md Khaled Newaz told Bangla Tribune.
Admitting the passengers’ pressure on the ferries, Newaz said, “At least 1,500 motorcycles crossed the river in last 24 hours.”
Despite heavy pressure from homebound people, a BIWTA official claimed that launches not carrying extra passengers.
“Passengers have been crowding at Shimula point since the morning. No launch, however, carries overloaded passengers,” BIWTA Shimulia Terminal’s Inspector Md Soleman told Bangla Tribune.