All types of vehicles and passenger transports on ferries have been stopped following many people rushing to ferry terminals ahead of the Eid festival despite a strict lockdown.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) issued the instructions on Friday.
It has been said that from July 9, all types of passenger vehicles on ferries will be prohibited.
Only emergency goods vehicles and ambulances will be allowed to cross in compliance with strict health rules.
Outside of this, passenger cars or passengers will not be able to board ferries to cross.
In this context, Syed Mohammad Tajul Islam, Chairman of BIWTC, said the decision was made following the government's guidelines to prevent coronavirus infection.
He said that from Friday, no passenger vehicles will be allowed on the ferries, and passengers will not be able to go.
Citing the example of last Eid-ul-Fitr, he said, “People are preparing to leave the city to go home this Eid also. There is a tendency among the people to return home by any means even if the public transport is closed. Strict restrictions are in place to prevent coronavirus infection. Some cars have been moving for a long time, and then passengers have also crossed. Now all will be closed,” he mentioned.
However, a huge rush of home-goers was witnessed at the ferry terminal over the past few days, as people determined to spend Eid holidays with family members continued leaving Dhaka despite the unimaginable hassles and health risks.
Such a trend is already being noticed at different ferry terminals, particularly in Shimulia Ferry Terminal, where many people are said to be rushing in advance to travel to villages.
With Eid-ul-Azha just a few days away, the pressure of private and goods vehicles increased at Shimulia Ferry Terminal on Thursday despite the multiple checkpoints on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway.
Thousands of people, defying the restrictions in the lockdown, are still rush-traveling to the main ferry terminal to cross over to reach destinations in greater south-western districts.
However, the government enforced movement restrictions from 28 June and it extended with more strict restrictions in several phases, in the face of a surge in Covid-19 infections in the country.
In the latest instance, the restrictions were extended until July 14.
All types of public transport, institutional activities, shops and shopping malls are closed.
