As the garment factories and businesses in Dhaka reopen,thousands of people were seen returning to the capital from south-western region of the country amid the nationwide shutdown enforced to curb the spread of coronavirus. Daulatdia Ferry Ghat of Rajbari was teeming with Dhaka-bound people on Tuesday.
Passengers are huddled on the ferry without maintaining social distance. They are suffering due to lack of public transport on the road amid lockdown and moving in large numbers, posing a serious threat to the spread of Covid19.
In pursuit to save their livelihoods, passengers from different districts of the south-west are coming to Daulatdia Ghat by various means including autorickshaws and motorcycles.
Passengers who came to Daulatdia Ghat said that some of them are going to Dhaka to collect their salaries and others to join their jobs. As the public transport was shut, the people rode motorcycles, auto-rickshaws and other light vehicles with extra fare to reach the Daulatdia Ghat.
Abu Abdullah Rony, manager of BIWTC's Daulatdia Ghat, said, “The re-opening of markets and shops in different parts of the country, including the opening of garment factories in Dhaka, has increased the pressure on Daulatdia.
On one hand the passengers are going to Dhaka, on the other hand they are also returning from Dhaka. Emergency cargo vehicles and ambulances are plying the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway with a limited number of six ferries. Taking advantage of this, some passenger vehicles and private cars are also plying the waterway.”