Homebound people did not stop gathering at the Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj on Wednesday, despite reports of 14 days’ strict restrictions being lifted from a day later.
Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, homebound passengers were gathering at Shimulia ferry ghat, at the risk of Covid-19 infection amid death toll surge. They have been coming to the terminal paying extra fare to alternative means of vehicles.
In addition to trucks, ambulances and emergency services, microbuses, private cars and motorbikes are crossing the Padma on ferry without complying with the BIWTC announcement.
Md Sirajul Kabir, in-charge of Mawa Naval Police Station, said the crowd is increasing at Shimulia as Eid approaches. Police fail to keep the commuters away despite check-posts under the strict rules were installed.
In the meantime, launches and trawlers will start plying on this route from today (Thursday). Authorities are working relentlessly so that the homebound people could cross the Padma comfortably.
Passengers from Dhaka and the south-western region of the country were coming in big number on Wednesday. They said the checkposts, on this day, were not as strict as before. They have been able to get to the terminal without any interrogation or obstruction. There were a few trucks loaded with animals on the ferry crossing the river.
When asked Alamgir Hossain, a passenger heading to Bhanga, Faridpur said, "The crowds will increase on Thursday, so I am returning to the village a day earlier."
Malek Dewan, who was on his way to Narayanganj from Barguna, said, "I went to my village home amid the lockdown for urgency. Now, I am going back to Dhaka."
BIWTC Shimulia Traffic Superintendent (TS) Mehedi Hasan said the lockdown has been relaxed from today (July 15). This is may be the reason why the strictness at the check posts have been eased. Therefore, the pressure of two-way passengers has increased at the port a day before.
Safayet Ahmed, manager (commerce) of Shimulia Ghat, said 11 small and large ferries are plying on the route.
Zakir Hossain, traffic inspector at Shimulia said, "The terminal is under heavy pressure from today (Wednesday). More than two hundred freight vehicles are waiting at the parking yard for the ferry."
Ahmed Ali, Assistant General Manager (Marine) of BIWTC, said 13 of the fleet's 17 ferries are able to cope with the strong current of the Padma on the Shimulia-Bangla Bazar waterway.
After 24 days of closure, the launch will start operating on this route from Thursday. There has been a stir among the owners and workers of speedboats, launches and trawlers at Shimulia Ghat.
