Night-time ferry service suspended

The government on Saturday decided to keep Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry service suspended from 6:00pm to 6:00am every day due to strong currents in the Padma river and for the sake of safety of the under-construction Padma multipurpose bridge project.

The decision took effect immediately. Accordingly, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) halted the operation of ferry service on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route for 12 hours from 6:00pm on Saturday.

As per the directive of the state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, the BIWTA

would enforce the decision until further notice, said a high official.

The Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry route is very important from the point of the view of passengers' movement as well as business activity.