Tile number of vehicles stranded al Aricha. Nagarbari and Daulatdia ferry terminals is increasing each day because of tremendous rush of traffic, causing mounting sufferings to passengers and wastage of perishable goods.

The situation worsened as two out of the 20 ferries in the Aricha-Nagarbari and Aricha-Doulatdia routes went out of order Saturday while the traffic rush was much too high for transportation of seasonal fruits, as usual at this time of the year.

Sources in the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (B1WTC). which operates the ferry service, confirmed that Amanat Shah' and Kasturi' had gone out of order and hoped these would again join the fleet soon after the necessary repair.

According to B1WTC. which has a strength of 30 ferries plying In various inland water routes, on an average 2.500 vehicles including buses, trucks, micro-buses and cars

cross the rivers Jamuna and Padma through Aricha-Nagarbari and Aricha-Doulatdia routes a day. Around 1000 more remain stranded at the three terminals making long queues along the parkyards and on adjacent roads.

The ferry routes are the main lines connecting the southern and northern districts of the country with the capital.

While visiting Aricha and Nagarbari. this correspondent found that hundreds of trucks carrying 'perishable goods including seasonal fruits, mainly mango and lichi. were halted for hours together.

A terminal superintendent (TS) al Nagarbari said on May 30 alone a record number of over 750 trucks reached there from different northern districts. whereas the usual turn up of trucks is not more than 500 a day.

Abul Hussain, a mango trader was seen sitting idly over the roof of a truck loaded with mangoes on the night of, June I on the ap proach road towards Nagart)an terminal.

When approached. Hussain said. "1 am taking mangoes from Shibganj of Chapalnav»ab ganj to Dhaka paying a truck fare of Taka 13.500. But now the truck Is forced to stay here overnight just to crossed the Jamuna.

A BIWTC official told The Daily Star that the Corporation had already informed the ministry concerned that the BIWTC' s fleet should immedl ately be expanded, adding at least eight more ferries

He stated that following the commissioning of the bridge on river Meghna on Dhaka-Chittagong route, the flow of vehicles running be iween Chittagong and the southern and northern districts has just doubled. Moreover. the number of vehicles, in general, is Increasing by 10 per cent every year, added the BIWTC official.

:-.mIc* Hu- crowding of ve hiclis. .i hazy situation at the feriv terminals and gross Indiscipline in maintaining -.i-rials lor boarding the ferries cuniributed to the present stale, it Is alleged.

Some drivers alleged that a group of people at the terminals do brisk business in ex-chance ol providing early seri al-

Wheri asked Nurul Amin, a is ai Aricha ferry terminal. sum I local mastaans posing as terminal staff take money from vehicle staff, promising early serials and Hus earns a bad n.mu: lor ns.

ll the authorities would pcmiiIe us with uniform, then it would be easier for the drivers and passengers to Klentify the phoney people." lie added

However BIWTC officials ^id ferry staff was provided <4gii dress but they never use those We spend Taka 18 lakh for this purpose yearly. Now. before we give the terminal stall any uniform, we have to ensure first that they will wear the dress one official said.

AKM ShanaHil Haq. Director (Commerce) of BIWTC. told this correspondent that the authorities had recently sent letters to the SPs of Manik gaiq I'.ibna and Rajbari requesting them to take necessary steps to free the ferry terimmils from the grip of