Ferry services between Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia have been suspended due to dense fog since midnight, causing immense suffering to travellers. 

Nur Ahmed, assistant manager of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Daulatdia point, confirmed the development, saying that they were forced to suspend the ferry services to avoid accidents.

As of filing this report around 8:30am on Sunday, the ferry services remained halted due to poor visibility, he said, adding that the services would be resumed when fog dissipates.

According to the local BIWTC office, the fog started getting thicker last night and impacted visibility. The ferry services were suspended around 1am to avert accidents.

Four ferries carrying more than a hundred vehicles remained stranded in the middle of the Padma River since the suspension of the ferry services, they said.

Several hundreds of Dhaka-bound buses and goods-carrying vehicles waiting to cross the river remained stuck at Daulatdia ghat.

Md Moniruzzaman, caretaker of a bus service at Daulatdia ghat, told the UNB correspondent that passengers, especially children and the elderly, stuck in the vehicles waiting to cross the river are the worst sufferers.

He said there is no chance to operate the ferry until the visibility improves.

Labourer Md Nuruzzaman Miah said some engine-run trawlers carrying motorbikes crossed the river risking their lives amid the thick fog.