Fog-disrupted ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat route resume after 6 hrs

Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route resumed at 9:30am today (17 January), following a six-hour suspension caused by dense fog that had severely impacted visibility.

The fog, which started to intensify around midnight, reached its peak at 3:30am, completely enveloping the ferry channel and obstructing navigation. This forced authorities to halt ferry movement to prevent any potential accidents.

As the fog began to lift by late morning, ferry operations were restored, bringing relief to hundreds of stranded passengers and vehicles. During the suspension, two Ro-Ro ferries, Shah Ali and Dhanshiri, were stuck in the middle of the river with both passengers and vehicles on board.

Nasir Chowdhury, deputy general manager (DGM) of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said that the fog's intensity disrupted not only the ferry services but also the visibility of the channel's beacon lights, making the route unsafe for travel.

In addition to the Aricha-Kazirhat route, ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were also halted earlier at 5:30 am due to similar fog conditions. Four ferries—Dhaka, Enayetpuri, Bonlata, and Keramat Ali—became stuck mid-river, and a total of eight ferries were delayed at the terminals.

The suspension of ferry services left over 300 vehicles stranded at both ferry terminals, most of which were cargo trucks, private cars, and microbuses. As visibility improved, priority was given to passenger vehicles, with cargo trucks being gradually allowed to cross.

By 9:30am, when the fog's intensity had decreased, both ferry routes resumed normal operations, easing the travel situation for commuters.