Kazir Hat Aricha ferry terminal in Pabna Bara Upazila is used as a communication medium for various districts in the northern region. Every day, hundreds of light, medium and heavy vehicles pass through this route. There have been complaints of overcharging passengers at ferry crossings and more than double tolls at vehicular crossings. As a result of which, there is dissatisfaction among the drivers.
Due to the lack of supervision of the ferry terminal administration, the lessees and some of the brokers of the terminal, the victims are expressing their apprehension that the traffic will be stopped on this route if this continues.
It has been seen on the ground that no government rules and regulations are being followed at the ferry wharf to collect toll from regular vehicles. The owners and workers of various types of vehicles have to constantly bribe the people appointed by the leases. If they do not agree to pay the scaffolding demanded by the lease collection authorities, they do not get chance to use the ferry. It should be noted that once the only means of transportation with Dhaka was the Aricha ferry route. But two and a half decades ago, Bangabandhu Bridge, the then longest in Bangladesh and South Asia with a length of 4.8 km in Sirajganj-Tangail section, was commissioned in 1998. Since then the ferry service on Kazir Hat Aricha ferry route has been stopped. Meanwhile, the government decided to resume ferrying on the Kazir Hat Aricha route to ease the pressure on the Bangabandhu Bridge.
Accordingly, on 27 January 2021, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud inaugurated the terminal with four ferries.
A wash room was built three years ago for the convenience of pedestrians and commuters, but after construction, it has not yet been opened for the use of public. When asked about the irregularity of the people of the lease authority, BIWTC official Fakhruzzaman denied, but the beneficiaries said that they constantly have to bribe some brokers at the terminal.
In this regard, Bara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabur Ali said that various developmental works have been taken up including road expansion of the terminal to ensure all facilities for the passengers.
It is expected that the government will take necessary measures to prevent all irregularities and develop the terminal.