Poor navigability in river Padma is likely to disrupt ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, affecting homebound passengers from 21 southern districts. If the services remain suspended, the holidaymakers will have to use the alternative ferry route of Paturia-Dawlatdia, sources said.

At present, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is plying only eight of the 21 ferries with under-load on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route due to poor navigability. As a result, more than 500 vehicles, mostly goods-laden trucks, were stranded on both sides of the Shimulia terminal, BIWTC sources said.

However, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) was trying to operationalize the ferry route by removing silt.

“BIWTA officials are trying to clear the route, but it is filling up frequently due to silt. BIWTA has informed us to wait till Monday. It will introduce an alternative ferry route if the present route does not become functional,” BIWTC assistant general manager (AGM) Khandker Shah Khaled Newaz told The Independent yesterday.

Only light vehicles were being carried by eight ferries through the under-load system, he said. “We are not sure when the Shimulia-Kathalbari route will be cleared because its condition is very bad. If the situation persists, it would be difficult to keep the ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route operational during the Eid holidays,” he added.

Newaz said ferries needed a depth of seven to eight feet to move freely, but the depth of the channel at present was only 5 feet. “The poor navigability has forced us to halt the ferry services,” he added.

At least 3,000 vehicles ply through this route every day, he said, adding that the pressure would now fall on Paturia ghat.

He also said they had sent four ferries, including three Ro-Ro vessels, from Shimulia to Paturia, but they were not sure when dredging would be completed and services resumed.

“The homebound passengers will definitely face difficulties during the Eid holidays if the route is suspended,” Newaz said. According to BIWTA officials, an alternative ferry route was being marked. “We are trying to operationalize the ferry route through round-the-clock dredging, but it is frequently filled-up due to heavy siltation,” said Saidur Rahman, additional chief engineer of BIWTA.

He, however, expressed hope that the route will be operational within a few days.