Ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route remain suspended for heavy current

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MUNSHIGANJ, July 1, 2020 (BSS) – The ferry movement on Shimulia-Kathalbari route in Padma river remained suspended since last night, an official of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said today.

“The ferry services on Shimulia-Kathalbari route was forced to close since 9pm on Tuesday after a Ro-Ro ferry ‘Bir Shrestha Jahangir’ got stuck in the upstream of the channel due to heavy water flow,” BIWTC’s Assistant General Manager M Shafiqul Islam said.

He said the ferry service will remain suspended until the water flow becomes normal.

Two rescue ships — IT-95 and IT-96 — are trying to salvage the stranded ferry, he added.

Due to suspension of ferry movement on Shimulia-Kathalbari route, huge congestion of vehicles has already been created at Mawa ghat in Munshiganj.

The ferry movement on this route had been kept in operation on a limited scale with a total of seven ferries, but the service was forced to be suspended last night when Bir Shrestha Jahangi was bound to anchor at the upstream of the channel due to heavy current in Padma river, said BIWTC Marine Manager of Shimulia Ghat Ahmed Ali.