Heavy vehicle transport on ferries suspended on Shimulia-Banglabazar route

Authorities have suspended the transport of heavy vehicles on ferries on the Shimulai-Banglabazar route due to severe Padma River currents, State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, said on Tuesday.  

He also said the suspension will be effective until the flow of the river returns back to a safer, more normal state.

The state minister made the announcement after a meeting with Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials at the ministry's meeting room.

"Heavy vehicles—passenger and freight— will not be allowed on the ferries plying from Shimulia in Munshiganj and Banglabazar in Madaripur, until the flow of the Padma River returns to normal. Only small, light vehicles—private cars, ambulances, and microbuses— will operate on the route," Chowdhury said.

"As an alternative, heavy vehicles will run on the ferry route from Paturia in Manikganj to Daulatdia in Rajbari, and Harina in Chandpur to Alubazar in Shariatpur," he added.

The move comes after at least 10 people were injured on Monday, when a ferry collided with a pillar of the Padma Bridge in Munshiganj.

Describing the Padma Bridge as 'an installation of our dignity' and 'a feeling of self-worth', Chowdhury said, "We are embarrassed and sorry for the collision of the ferry with the pillar of this bridge. This is a matter of concern for us."

"Hitting the Padma bridge means hitting our hearts. We don't want our hearts to be wounded again and again. The Padma Bridge is our challenge, [it is] the establishment of dignity," the state minister for shipping said.

Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Chairman of BIWTC, Syed Mohammad Tajul Islam, and BIWTA Chairman, Commodore Golam Sadeq, were present at the meeting.