Ferry service resumes on Paturia-Daulatdia route after 7-hour fog disruption

A total of 14 ferries, both large and small, are now operating on the route

Ferry service on the Paturia-Daulatdia route have resumed after remaining suspended for about seven hours due to dense fog on the Padma River.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Acting Deputy General Manager Abdus Salam said ferry crossings on the route returned to normal around 9:45am on Friday.

Authorities had suspended ferry operations at 3am on Friday as heavy fog reduced visibility in the river channel, increasing the risk of accidents.

The suspension left nearly 150 vehicles, including cargo trucks and long-distance buses, stranded at the Paturia and Daulatdia ghats, causing severe suffering for passengers and transport workers.

Salam said vehicle crossings are currently being carried out with a limited number of ferries.

Two ferries that had been stuck mid-river during the suspension have now reached the ghats.

BIWTC Daulatdia Terminal Branch Manager Md Salahuddin said fog had started settling over the river from midnight, eventually reducing visibility along the route.

“To avoid accidents, ferry movement on the route was temporarily stopped,” he said.

After visibility improved around 10am, ferry services resumed, and efforts are under way to clear the backlog of vehicles waiting at the terminals, he added.

A total of 14 ferries, both large and small, are now operating on the Daulatdia-Paturia route, according to BIWTC.