Launch services on Daulatdia-Paturia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes halted by bad weather

Passenger launch services on Daulatdia-Paturia and Aricha-Kazirhat remain suspended for the second consecutive day on Friday due to adverse weather.

The authorities halted all launch movements from 9am on Thursday to avoid accidents caused by the turbulent Padma and Jamuna rivers.

However, ferry services on both routes worked  as usual.

Md. Shimul Islam, traffic supervisor at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority- BIWTA's Aricha regional office, said launch services on Daulatdia-Paturia route will remain suspended until weather conditions improve.

He informed that all launches have been anchored safely at the Daulatdia ghat pontoon.

Moreover, the launch service on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were also suspended from 9am on Thursday and if the weather improves the service will resume later, the supervisor said.

Meanwhile, ferry operations on Daulatdia-Paturia route remained halted from 3:30 pm to 7:30pm on Thursday due to high risk but the service on Aricha-Kazirhat remained normal.

Since 7:30pm on Thursday, the ferry services on the both routes remained as usual, he informed.

Md. Salahuddin, assistant general manager of BIWTC’s Daulatdia office, said that ferry services are currently running with seven large and three small ferries in operation.

The number of passengers has increased compared to normal time due to suspension of the launch service, he said.

If needed, more ferries will be added to the fleet, Salahuddin added.