Vessel shortage hits ferry service

Several hundred passengers are stranded at the Daulatdia and Paturia ferry ghats because of shortage of vessels and strong currents in the Padma river. Officials of the Bangladesh Inlands Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said the problem on the Daulatdia–Paturia route has been acute during the last three days. This river route is the gateway to the country’s south-western region. The assistant general manager of the Daulatdia ferry ghat, Md Zillur Rahman, told this correspondent that there was a heavy rush of passengers, some returning home from Dhaka and others headed for the capital from the southern region. The Daulatdia ferry ghat in Goalondo upazila of the district was overcrowded on Thursday afternoon.
There were 10 RO-RO vessels (large) and five K-Type small vessels, but the authorities had to send three RO-RO vessels to the Narayanganj dockyard and two more to another ferry ghat for repairs. 
At present five RO-RO vessels -- Bhasha Shaheed Barkot,  Keramot Ali,  Amanot Shah, Birshreshtho Motiur Rahman, and Sha Ali -- are transporting vehicles on the Daulatdia-Paturia  river route with great difficulty.
Sources said vessels carrying vehicles are finding it difficult to ply between Daulatdia and Paturia ferry ghats due to  emergence of innumerable shoals and strong current in the river.
Shah Alam, master of Shaparan, said that at least 9-14 feet of water is needed for smooth plying of ferries transporting vehicles. The depth of water in the river is six to eight feet at the entrance point and adjacent areas. 
Another ferry master, Hassan Ahamed Jaglul, told this correspondent that a ferry got stranded at the entrance point on the Daulatdia side due to poor navigability.
Md. Kalimullah Khan, a Dhaka-bound passenger, with five members of his family, managed to get a seat on a bus in which people were packed like sardines. Passengers alleged that it is now an open-secret that bus tickets are  available on the black market.  
Local businessman Abubakker said ferries getting stuck in shoals has become a regular affair. The BIWTC manager of Paturia-Daulatdia,  Md  Zillur Rahman, told this correspondent that more ferries are needed here.

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