Paturia-Daulatdia Route
Poor condition of ferries disrupts services badly
Dilapidated condition of ferries at Paturia-Daulatdia launch terminal is taking a heavy toll on passengers using Dhaka-Aricha highway. Due to the shortage of ferries, vehicles on both sides of Padma River remain stranded for hours almost every day.
Ashraf Ullah Khan, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said eight ferries are operating on Paturia-Daulatdia route at the moment. “We need at least six more to meet the present need,” he said.
Condition of most of these ferries is “very bad,” says Subal Sarkar, assistant engineer of BIWTC.
“Of them, Bir Sreshtha Zahangir, Amanat Shah, Bir Sreshtha Hamidur Rahman, Bir Sreshtha Motiur Rahman and Keramat Ali might go out of order anytime,” he told The Daily Star.
Paturia-Daulatdia is a very important river route connecting the southwestern districts with the capital. Thousands of long-route vehicles including passenger bus and goods-laden trucks use the course every day.
Keramat Ali is operating with support of BIWTC’s tugboat, and can be used only during daytime, Subal said, adding, it requires immediate repair.
In April and September, three ferries were sent to different shipyards for repair. None, however, is ready to hit the water.
BIWTC officials say Madhumati, the floating workshop, remains busy with minor repair works every day.
Workers at the shipyards, however, alleged that negligence and corruption of a section of BIWTC officials are to blame for the delay.
They said officials of Narayanganj Dockyard in collusion with some BIWTC officials are taking a huge amount of money from BIWTC authorities in the name of repair work.
“They always buy cheaper parts but make bills for expensive ones,” a worker said preferring anonymity.
Shah Jalal was mended at a cost of over Tk 4 crore two years ago. It broke down soon after and the BIWTC authorities sent it to Narayanganj Dockyard in September this year.
After another round of repair for Tk 60 lakh, it was brought to Mawa launch terminal on October 15. The next day it broke down again and is now being repaired.
“We are trying our best to repair the ferries quickly,” said Saifur Rahman, executive engineer of Narayanganj Dockyard.
“Shah Jalal is now ready for work and repair works of rest of the ferries are almost complete,” he added.
