Cross-Padma traffic in doldrums

Motor-launches and speedboats crossing the Padma on the Mawa-Kewrakandi route were being disrupted due to adverse weather.
The vessels were twice stopped from plying the rough currents though only cautionary signal 2 had been issued, Md Mohiuddin Ahmed of BIWTA’s Mawa office told bdnews24.com Saturday.
But the services were resumed around 2:30pm after they were stopped twice -- once at 12:45 pm and again on 1:45 pm, he said.
“A storm started 15 minutes after we told them to resume services. They began operating from 2:30pm after the storm ended.”
There was a huge rush on the southern route as people were travelling back after Eid and Puja holidays.
Many passengers were stranded in the rain on both the banks after launch and speedboat services were stopped, even though ferries were still operating.
The central and southern regions of Bangladesh were experiencing rain and gusty wind with Cyclone Hudhud advancing across the Bay of Bengal.
While the cyclone itself is heading towards India, the Met office said squally weather would continue to affect the North Bay and the maritime ports.
Most of those stranded were at Madaripur’s Kewrakandi.
Madaripur Deputy Commissioner GSM Jafrulla said the administration was trying to get them across on ferries as fast as possible.
More than 300 vehicles were waiting at Kewrakandi, he said. Three long lines of vehicles, almost a kilometer long, were trailing out of the terminal towards Barkhandi of Shibchar Upazila in the afternoon.