Eid is still a week away, the holidays have not started but people are rushing home early to avoid suffering.
Paturia-Daulatdia, Shimulia-Banglabazar, Shimulia-Majhirkandi ghat, known as the ‘gateway’ of the south, has seen an increase in the number of homebound people since Sunday; Traffic jam has been created.
It was seen on the ground all day on Monday that the passengers had to wait for hours in the sun and heat to cross the Padma to get on the ferry. Some people are crossing the Padma by launch or speedboat without getting a ferry. They also complained about the ferry crisis and lack of proper environment at the wharf.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mohiuddin Russell, manager of BIWTC’s Paturia office, told bdnews24.com on Monday afternoon: In the morning, more than two hundred small vehicles were on the Paturia ghat and road. There were also more than 50 large cars. However, the pressure on the wharf has decreased in the afternoon.
“People are coming. Despite the pressure on the wharf, the people have not come down yet. ”
Roxana Begum (40) made her way to Khulna with her children from Dhaka. The passenger of Hanif Paribahan bus said, “Passengers are under a lot of pressure during Eid holidays. You have to sit for hours. So I am going home with my children. ”
Jessore-bound Eagle Paribahan passenger Rafiq Mia said he was going home from Dhaka with his son’s wife and grandchildren.
“The boy will come during Eid. Now I am going home because the ghat will be empty. ”BIWTC Aricha Office DGM Shah. Khaled Newaz said preparations have been made to ensure the journey of homebound people on Eid. Two ferries will be added on the Paturia-Daulatdia route in a day or two and one ferry on the Aricha Kazirhat route.
Aleya Akhter, a resident of Gopalganj at Shimulia Ghat in Munshiganj, said she lives in Gazipur with her husband. Swami worked in a garment factory in Gazipur. The husband has not yet taken leave. To avoid traffic jams on Eid, the elder brother went home with his three children and mother-in-law.
“After Seheri, I left Gazipur. But I came to the wharf and sat for a long time for the ferry. I don’t know when I will get the ferry and when I will reach home. “
Maguragami Saikat Hossain taught at a private college in Narayanganj. At 10 am, he reached Shimulia Ghat with his six-month-old daughter and wife. He did not see the ferry till 12 noon.”I came earlier to avoid the crowd,” he lamented. But that is the suffering. ”
Talking to Sultana Akhter, an employee of a private company in Dhaka, at the same station. His home is in Khulna. The house has elderly parents and two younger brothers. Although he came from Dhaka without any trouble, he came to Shimulia Ghat and got into trouble; Can’t see the ferry.
“I will celebrate Eid with my family this time, so I did not go home for a long time. Eid holiday is not over yet. I went home on vacation to avoid stress. ”
Mikail bin Masum, a passenger at Daulatdia Ghat in Rajbari, said, “I study in Dhaka. Every Eid, on the way back home from Dhaka, I have to suffer in traffic jams. As the university was closed, I left earlier.
He added, “Even though I left a week ago, I sat in the traffic jam for three hours. Later I crossed the Padma in the launch. Right now I have to stay at the wharf for hours. The Creator knows what will happen during Eid. ”
Masum Talukder, 45, of Faridpur, said he did business in Dhaka. He lives in Dhaka with his family. Before Eid, there is a traffic jam, you have to sit at the ferry terminal for a few hours.
“Every year before and after Eid we have to go through this ordeal. I am going home with my family members beforehand to avoid suffering. ”
Brishti Khatun said her husband was working in a private company. When he gets Eid leave, he will have to suffer step by step to return home.
“Even though we were supposed to go to the village house together, I had already left. Because it is not possible to come to the ferry with a two year old child and sit for eight to ten hours. There is only one reason to go home first, the suffering of the ferry. ”
Asked about the preparations for Eid, Shafiqul Islam, deputy general manager of Shimulia Ghat in Munshiganj, said, “There are now seven ferries plying this waterway.” Two more ferries are going to be added to the fleet. Only light vehicles will pass through here. Freight trucks have been told to take alternative routes. Besides, 6 launches and 153 speedboats will also cross this Eid.
“As Eid approaches, the pressure of passengers and small and big vehicles has started to increase.”
SM Ashiquzzaman, director (commerce) of BIWTC at Shimulia Ghat, said the number of ferries on the Shimulia-Banglabazar and Shimulia-Majhikandi waterways would increase on Eid. We hope that the pressure of passengers will start from Wednesday-Thursday. Still coming, but less.
