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Ferry crisis reaches nerve

Hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of Padma

STAR REPORT
Hundreds of vehicles on either side of river Padma remained stranded for hours due to ferry crisis on Paturia-Daulatdia and Mawa-Kawrakandi routes causing immense suffering to thousands of passengers.
Six out of 13 Paturia-Daulatdia route ferries have been sent to Narayanganj dock for renovation while timeworn ferries on Mawa-Kawrakandi route are carrying fewer vehicles than their capacity, sources said. Apart from the people on vehicles, goods, vegetables and other raw products are running the risk of becoming trash
A Faridpur bound passenger from Gabtali said he had been waiting for 16 long hours at Paturia terminal since 11:00pm Thursday, reports our Marukganj correspondent.
Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTO Bidyut Kumar Saha sard there were twelve Ro-ro (Roll on/roll off) and one K-type ferries operat-ing at Aricha terminal. However, six of them Birshreshtha Jahangir, Shah Poran. Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman, Enayetpuri, Shah Mokhdum, and Birshreshtha Mobur Rahman--are now at Narayanganj Dockyard for renovation.
BIWTC's Marine officer Abdus Sattar said the crisis was doubled as ferry Shah Jalal and Barkat became inoperative due to engine failure on Thursday night
According to sources, Shah Poran ferry was sent to Narayanganj dockyard five months ago, Birshreshtha Jahangir four months. Enayetpuri one month, Shah Mokhdum and Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman 20 days ago and Birshreshtha Motiur Rahman was sent yesterday. When these ferries would be working again is, however, uncertain.
During a visit at Paturia ferry ghat, some BIWTC officials said the floating workshop 'Madhumati' remains busy in repairing minor defects of the running ferries. In an average one to two ferries are brought to the workshop for repair everyday, they said.
As water in the river rose and the current got stronger the years old ferries on Mawa-Kawrakandi route are carrying less number of vehicles than their capacities, reports our Madaripur correspondent.
Besides, the ferries are also running slow consuming more time than ever.
BIWTA sources said all the 10 ferries operating at Mawa-Kawrakandi route are over 60 year-old and of them seven are dumb ferries, which are run by separate engines.
According to BIWTA sources, plates of almost all the ferries have become thinner and cracks also developed in many plates.
AGM Ashiqur Rahman of BIWTC Mawa zone said people would have to suffer during entire rainy season due to poor condition of the ferries.