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The number of passengers has increased manifold at the Paturia jetty in Manikganj ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
On Friday, long lines of vehicles and homebound travellers were seen waiting to board ferries to cross the river, reports bdnews24.com.
Deputy General Manager (Acting) Md Abdus Salam of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said that there was increased pressure of Eid holidaymakers and vehicles at the terminal. Nine large, three medium and five small ferries are operating on the Paturia-Daulatdia route.
When asked about the number of vehicles stuck at the jetty, he said: “It should be less than a hundred. However, all of our ferries are running. I hope that the pressure will ease soon.”
Hundreds of working-class people from the southwestern part of the country were seen crossing the river on ferries and launches on Friday morning as they head home for Eid.. River Police, BIWTA and Fire Service members are on duty to prevent the launches from exceeding their passenger limits.
During the Eid holidays, homebound people and transport from 21 districts in the south and southwest part of the country use the Paturia-Daulatdia river route. Since the Padma Bridge was opened, the pressure of passengers and vehicles on this route has dropped. However, during Eid, the volume of passengers and vehicles increases slightly.
Sohel Hossain, a passenger from Rajbari, said: “I came from Ashulia on a local bus. It paused repeatedly while coming here. And after coming here, I found traffic jams at the jetty. The ferry will be late. So I will cross the river by launch.”
Salman Hossain, a passenger from Meherpur, said: “I came from Gazipur. My bus kept stopping repeatedly. I see the ferry is still on the other side of the river. I have been sitting for about an hour.”
Abdul Khalek, a truck driver travelling to Doulatdia, said: “The sufferings are the same as it used to be before the Padma Bridge was constructed. The queue of vehicles waiting to cross the river stretches up to two kilometres.”