Shawdesh desk:

Ferry services between Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia remained suspended due to dense fog since early Sunday, causing immense suffering to commuters.

Nur Ahmed, assistant manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation at Daulatdia point, confirmed the development, saying that they were forced to suspend the ferry services to avoid accidents.

According to the local BIWTC office, the fog started getting thicker last night and impacted visibility. The ferry services were suspended at about 1:00am to avert accidents.

Four ferries carrying more than hundred vehicles remained stranded in the middle of the River Padma since the suspension of the ferry services, they said.

Several hundred Dhaka-bound buses and goods-carrying vehicles waiting to cross the river remained stuck at the Daulatdia Ghat.

Md Moniruzzaman, caretaker of a bus service at the Daulatdia Ghat, told the UNB correspondent that passengers, especially children and the elderly, stuck in the vehicles waiting to cross the river are the worst sufferers.

He said that there was no chance to operate the ferry until the visibility improved.

Ghat labourer Md Nuruzzaman Miah said some engine-run trawlers were carrying motorbikes crossed the river risking their lives amid the thick fog.

He suggested increasing vigilance by the authorities concerned so that no one can cross the Padma and Jamuna rivers during thick fog, endangering lives.