Senior Correspondent,
bdnews24.com
Published: 08 May 2021 02:17 AM BdST
Updated: 08 May 2021 02:22 AM BdST Thousands of people travelling to southern Bangladesh break pandemic rules to cross the Padma River, at the port at Munshiganj’s Shimulia on May 7, 2021, amid the ongoing lockdown. Thousands of people travelling to southern Bangladesh break pandemic rules to cross the Padma River, at the port at Munshiganj’s Shimulia on May 7, 2021, amid the ongoing lockdown.
A rush of travellers defying a coronavirus lockdown ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr has prompted the authorities to suspend daytime ferry services. );
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Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation or BIWTC announced the decision on Friday night after the ferries swarmed with passengers throughout the day.
The apprehension stems from a few factors.
As per a new government circular, public transport, including buses and minibuses, will be allowed to operate only inside the territory of each district. Bus operators, however, have pointed out that it will be difficult to enforce since most of the vehicles ply from one stop to another, not based on the territory of the districts.
People will be able to travel beyond the boundary of a district and take a new vehicle to go further, advancing towards their destinations their village homes.
Also, a huge number of cars and microbuses continue to carry passengers to and from Dhaka on rent, charging almost double the usual bus fare. The number of such vehicles is expected to go up during the Eid.
People working in different districts are trying to return home, causing traffic jam on the Aricha-Kazirhat ferry ghat on the Jamuna river over the last couple of days. Aricha-Kazirhat ferry ghat is mostly used for movement of goods-laden trucks but a lot of vehicles are seen stranded on both sides of Aricha and Kazirhat due to the added pressure of private cars and microbuses
Hundreds of vehicles queue up at Paturia Ghat ahead of ‘strict lockdown’
Photo: Star Star Digital Report Star Digital Report
Around seven hundred vehicles 500 light and 200 goods-carrying are waiting at Paturia Ghat (ferry terminal) to cross the river as thousands of people are leaving Dhaka for their village homes ahead of the weeklong strict restrictions imposed by the government to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Passengers travelling with private cars, microbuses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws are seen rushing to the terminal from Dhaka and adjacent areas through Dhaka-Patuaria highway, reports our Manikganj correspondent.
Drivers and passengers of the light vehicles said they have to wait four to five hours at Paturia terminal to board a ferry.
People rush out of cities as fresh curbs announced newagebd.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newagebd.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.