Shariatpur-Chandpur ferry terminal closed

Ferry services from Shariatpur terminal have been suspended after a part of the pontoon at the terminal broke down. Various southern districts accessed through the river Meghna has been cut off since Saturday morning. The ramp for the pontoon at Aloo Bazar Ferry Terminal collapsed in the morning, said Jitu Bepari, the leaseholder of the Shariatpur-Chandpur terminal. Almost 200 vehicles carrying passengers and goods were stranded on both Aloo Bazar and Chandpur terminals, he said. The vehicles were headed to Chittagong, Comilla, Noakhali and Chandpur or Benapole, Khulna, Bagerhat, Gopalganj, Jessore, Madaripur and Shariatpur. The pontoon ramp had for long turned rickety, claimed the officials at the terminal and blamed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) for ‘irregularities’. BIWTA officials would visit the site, said Jitu Bepari. Ferry operation may resume by afternoon, terminal officials have said, according to bdnews24.com.