Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

Due to the impact of Cyclone Rimal, the ferry service has started from 9 am on Tuesday after 36 and a half hours between Daulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj.

On the other hand, Daulatdia-Paturia and Aricha-Kazirhat waterways launched after 50 hours.

However, one out of the three ghats of Daulatdia is still closed due to the damage of the pontoon due to the storm, which is disrupting the movement of vehicles.

According to the Daulatdia office of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), due to Cyclone Rimal, the authorities stopped all boat traffic including ferries as the Padma River was rough from 9:30 pm on Sunday.

As per the instructions of the authorities, the ferry service on the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway started from 9 am on Tuesday, due to the impact of the cyclone.

Meanwhile, the front part of a pontoon at Daulatdia ghat number 7 submerged in water on Monday morning due to the rise in the water level of Padma river due to cyclone Rimal and strong winds and the ghat is closed for the time being.

Around 8 am in Sarzamin on Tuesday, Daulatdia Ghat was seen, a long line of cargo trucks crossing the river for about 4 km from the zero point of Ferry Ghat to Bangladesh Hatchery on Dhaka-Khulna highway. On the other hand, the drivers suffered due to the long series of cargo trucks.

Anwar Hossain, a truck driver from Meherpur to Dhaka Gazipur, said that he got stuck at the ghat around 12 o'clock on Sunday. Loading paddy in the car. From that side the party is angry. But what else to do when the ferry leaves.

BIWTA Traffic Supervisor Shimul Islam working at Daulatdia Ghat said, due to the effect of Cyclone Rimal, the launching movement was stopped from 9:30 AM on Sunday to avoid accidents as per the instructions of the authorities. After the impact of the cyclone is over, launch operations will be normal again from 10:30 am on Tuesday.

BIWTC Daulatdia Office Manager (Commercial) Mohammad Salah Uddin said, due to Cyclone Rimal, the ferry service was stopped from 9:30 pm on Sunday night to avoid accidents as per the instructions of the authorities. After the effect of the cyclone is over, the ferry service will be normal from 9 am on Tuesday as per the instructions of the authorities.

He also said that among the three ghats in Daulatdia, ghats number 3 and 4 are operational. Due to rising water in Padma, the front part of the pontoon of Ferry No. 7 submerged in water. The rescue operation of the pontoon has started.