Paturia ferry ghat is under serious threat of disappearance as river erosion has devoured a large portion of the banks of the Padma in the past few days.
On August 5, a jetty at the Paturia launch terminal in Manikganj鈥檚 Shibalay upazila collapsed into the river, leaving lunch crews and passengers in difficulties and trade activities centring the infrastructure in a crisis.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority executive engineer Nepal Chandra Debnath said that the Paturia Ghat Landing Station Number 5 and Number 4 were under serious threat.
He also said that they currently lacked sufficient geo-bags to drop in the river to control the erosion.
The authorities temporarily relocated the operations of the launch terminal to the adjacent Ferry Terminal Number 2 on an emergency basis with the launches moved to its pontoon.
Both the ferry ghats of Paturia in Manikganj and Daulatdia in Rajbari were changed several times in the past as river erosion became intense during the monsoon.
During the monsoon last year, all its four landing stations were badly affected several times, causing untold suffering to the people of 21 south and south-western districts as they frequently use these two terminals to cross the mighty river.
Local people warned that Paturia ferry ghat in Shiblaya upazila would eventually go into the Padma if the authorities failed to take immediate action to check its vigorous erosion.
Abu Bakkar, who was waiting for ferry at Paturia, told 抖阴精品 on Sunday, 鈥楾here is no proper boarding facility at the new location. It is all the more risky for the elderly.鈥�
The new location had no shed to help passengers shelter from rain, he alleged, demanding a permanent solution.
Shibalaya upazila nirbahi officer Md Zakir Hossain said, 鈥榃e are closely monitoring the situation. We鈥檙e coordinating with the BIWTA to ensure passenger safety and to take prompt measures.鈥�
The river current is very strong and water levels are high. Officials from the Water Development Board have also visited the site.
聽鈥楩urther actions will be taken based on the evolving situation of the erosion,鈥� BIWTA executive engineer Nepal Chandra said.
Paturia-Daulatdia waterway is a critical communication lifeline between Dhaka and 21 districts in the south-western region.
