Sabbir Alam Babu, Bhola

As soon as evening falls, the island district of Bhola becomes isolated. Then there is no way to go to another district. But with the launch of the Padma Bridge, the image of the district has changed. The people of the region have started enjoying the benefits of the Padma Bridge. However, as there is no direct bus service on the Dhaka-Bhola route, they still have to go to the capital with a lot of misery.

If the bus service on Bhola-Dhaka route is introduced and uninterrupted ferry service is introduced, the common people think that relief will return on the way. Through this, the people of Bhola will be able to enjoy the full benefits of the Padma Bridge. Direct bus service on Bhola-Dhaka route will be launched soon, district bus association leaders said.

At present the only reliable launch of communication from this southern island district to the capital. But the launch operates at a scheduled time, so the people of the district cannot go to Dhaka after evening even if there is an urgent need.

But that picture has changed since the Padma Bridge was inaugurated. Now the people of the island can go to the capital at any time. However, the bus service on the Bhola-Dhaka route is still not running. In this situation, the locals have demanded to start bus service from this district to make the transportation system easier.

A man named Sajib said, "People in 21 districts of the south are enjoying the full benefits of the Padma Bridge, but we, the people of Bhola, are not getting that benefit." So if the bus service is introduced here, the communication system will be easier.

Cultural activist Talha Talukder Bandhan said the people of Bhola could not go anywhere in case of emergency. I am isolated from the rest of the country. So with the introduction of bus service and day and night ferries, we will be able to reach Dhaka faster through the Padma Bridge.
Meanwhile, freight trucks had to wait for hours at the Veduria ferry terminal in Bhola. Now that situation has changed, relief has returned.

Now you don't have to wait for hours for ferries at the wharf. In a short time, the transport workers can go to the destination including Dhaka through Padma bridge. Truck drivers Mosle Uddin and Siraj said, "Before, we had to wait at the wharf for hours." He had no certainty when he would reach Dhaka. But now that the Padma Bridge has been launched, I can go to Dhaka in a very short time by ferry to Barisal. This has greatly reduced our suffering.

If the transportation system is easy, there will be huge potential for economic development of the district. The ferry authorities think that if the bus service with the capital is introduced, the communication system will be further improved. Moazzem Hossain Jasim, in-charge of the ferry service on the Bhola-Barisal route, said, "If the bus service is launched, we will also keep the ferry running day and night." At the same time the number of ferries will be increased.

Abul Kalam Azad, general secretary of the district bus owners' association, said a bus service would be launched on the Bhola-Dhaka route soon to make the journey easier for passengers in the south, including Bhola.

"We have decided to launch bus service on the Bhola-Dhaka route for the first time," he said. Now if the ferry service is uninterrupted, there will be no more problems. If Bhola-Barisal bridge, then communication will be easier.