The ferry and launches services on Paturia-Daulatdia river channel were disrupted for 10 hours as visibility came down to zero due to dense fog on Monday.
It’s caused long traffic chaos on both sides of the ferry routes and also untold inconveniences of passengers of stranded vehicles.
Mohiuddin Rashel, Manager (Commerce) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha sector said, six ferries, along with two Ro-Ro ferries with vehicles and passengers were bound for anchored in the mid river of Padma for hours.
Another 10 ferreis with hundreds of trucks, passenger buses and small vehicles on board were forced to wait at Paturia and at Daulatdia ghat, till the visibility regained, the Manager adds. Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha sector Zillur Rahaman said that the ferry services were disrupted from 11:45 pm on Sunday bringing traffic to a complete halt. The authorities suspended the ferry movement to avoid accidents. The vessels reached their destinations after visibility was restored at about 9.30 am on Monday, he added.
Over 300 Coaches, buses, minibuses, privet cars and loaded trucks from Dhaka lined up at Paturia in Manikganj and similar numbers vehicles waiting at Daulatdia in Rajbari.
Now 16 RO-RO, K- type and a small type ferries are carrying passenger buses, private vehicles and emergency raw material trucks on a priority basis.
Traffic Sergeunt Rakib Hossain said, every moment the line of the vehicles are going to longest.
Disruption of ferry services has become almost a daily affair in these ferry ghats in recent days since a mild cold spell gripped, sources said.