Home
+
Published : 12 Mar 2026, 01:05 PM
Authorities have almost completed all preparations to ensure the smooth travel of people making Eid journeys home on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat river routes in Manikganj, two major travel routes for people in the southwestern region of the country.
However, infrastructural issues have caused concern among travellers and others involved with the route. The “slope” leading to the pontoon for the boarding ferries and the narrow roads leading to and from the docks have worried drivers and general passengers.
However, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Deputy General Manager Mohammad Salam Hossain says that no effort is being spared during preparations for this year's Eid journey.
During Eid every year, there is a huge rush of passengers and vehicles on these two river routes. To handle that pressure, work to provide more ferries and launches for the holiday period, renovate wharfs and step up security at terminals are in their final stages.
BIWTA Executive Engineer Md Rabiul Alam said, “Four jetties have been renovated in Paturia. Necessary renovations have also been completed at the docks on the Aricha-Kazirhat river route.
“Various measures have been taken to handle the additional rush during Eid. The jetties have also been made suitable for children and the elderly.”
Four ferry piers and one launch pier are used on the Paturia-Daulatdia route. Before the Padma Bridge was opened, about 3,000 vehicles used the ferries to cross the river. But now the number only reaches that high during Eid.
On the other hand, one ferry pier and one launch pier are used on the Aricha-Kazirhat route.
Jetty No. 1 on the Paturia-Daulatdia route has been closed for a long time. Currently, jetties No. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are used. The roads adjacent to the pontoons are narrow and steep, especially at jetties No. 3, 4, and 5, which may cause some inconvenience during Eid due to increased traffic pressure.
Kushtia-bound passenger Khorshed Alam at jetty No. 5 said, “This time, they have made the jetty with quite a steep slope. It will be very difficult to get up it.”
Before the Padma Bridge was opened, people from 21 districts of the southwestern region used to cross the river on this route with some difficulty. Since the bridge has been built, it is largely used by freight trucks.
However, every year, the pressure of vehicles and passengers on the jetty increases during Eid. At these times, garment workers from Gazipur, Tangail, Dhamrai, Ashulia and Savar, and other workers from various factories, use the route to travel to different destinations in the south and southwest.
They arrive in the jetties by local bus and then cross the river by ferry and launch on their way to their respective home districts on other vehicles. After the holidays, they return to their workplaces in the same way.
When asked about the current situation at Paturia Launch Pier, Manager Faruk Hossain said, “The launch pier was submerged in the river during the last monsoon, so the BIWTA has built a temporary pier next to it. However, the elderly may have a little problem getting on the launches at the pier.
“However, the pier renovation work by the BIWTA has yet to be completed. I hope they will take steps to resolve this problem before Eid.”
Abul Hossain, who regularly travels from the Paturia-Daulatdia launch pier in Rajbari, said: “If the pier was destroyed during the monsoon, and they rebuilt it, they should have made it better.”
BIWTC Deputy General Manager Mohammad Salam Hossain said that before the Padma Bridge was opened, about 3,000 vehicles would travel by ferry every day. During the Eid journeys, it would handle 6,000-7,000 vehicles every day.
“Now, 1,200-1,500 vehicles use the route. Now there is no such pressure. During Eid, 2,500 to 3,000 vehicles use this route.”
When asked about the preparations for this year’s Eid journey, the BIWTC official said: “We are prepared to ensure that there is no problem in the movement of vehicles and passengers during Eid.”
“Although 12 ferries run on the Paturia-Daulatdia route regularly, 17 have been prepared for Eid. Also, five ferries have been kept ready on the Aricha-Kazirhat route. This means a total of 22 ferries have been kept ready on these two routes.”
“I hope this time people will be able to return home without any problems to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones,” he added.
To address the ferry crisis during the Eid travel, Ro-Ro ferries are being repaired. As part of the initiative, Ro-Ro ferry Enayetpuri’s engine has been fixed.
Engine mechanic Jibon Mia said that the Ro-Ro ferry Enayetpuri will be added to the fleet in one or two days.
