Eid holidaymakers returning to Dhaka from southern districts

After celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr at their village homes, people have started returning to Dhaka from 21 southern districts through Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes.

Bhasha Shahid Barkat ferry with over 300 passengers, 30 private cars, six microbuses and 20 motorcycles left Rajbari’s Daulatdia ghat in the morning and anchored at pontoon-4 of Manikganj’s Paturia ghat around 9:30am.

Another ferry, Shah Jalal, anchored at Paturia ghat around 9:15am with over 300 passengers, 200 motorcycles and a number of small vehicles.

Several other ferries carrying passengers and vehicles started to anchor at the ghat one after another with 10 to 15 minutes’ gap. 

Zillur Rahman, general manager of BIWTC’s Aricha regional office, said 16 ferries are operating now on Paturia-Daulatdia route and four on Aricha-Kazirhat route.

Passengers and vehicles are being transported but all goods-laden trucks will be allowed to cross the river in the night, he said.

Meanwhile, motorcycles, private cars and microbuses are plying Dhaka-Paturia and Dhaka-Aricha highway.

Many Dhaka-bound people were seen changing vehicles multiple times as the government restrictions on movement of long-distance public buses to curb spread of Covid-18 remain.

Passengers alleged that the vehicles are charging extra than usual.