Ferry services resume after 12 hrs

Ferry services on Shimulia-Kawrakandi and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes have resumed after a 12-hour suspension due to poor visibility caused by thick fog. Fifteen ferries, including two carrying Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and Faridpur MP Bahauddin Nasim, were stranded in Padma River. The stoppage resulted in huge gridlocks on both sides of the important river routes. Ten ferries on the Shimula-Kawrakandi waterways and five on the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway had to anchor mid-river. Ferry services are often suspended during winter as dense fog brings down visibility. BIWTC Manager of Shimulia terminal Sirajul Haq said they were forced to shut the route around 10:30pm on Sunday. Ferries on the Daulatdia-Paturia route was suspended around the same time. ‘Visibility was poor in the morning as well. We resumed operations around 11am,’ Haq said. The two routes connect capital Dhaka with 21 south-western districts, according to a news agency.