Ferry breakdown on Shariatpur-Chandpur route leaves 400 vehicles stranded
Commuters and drivers are facing immense hardship, and authorities have warned that it may take at least another two days to resolve the crisis.
Transportation between the southwest and eastern regions of the country has been severely disrupted following a mechanical failure of two major ferries on the Shariatpur-Chandpur route.
At the time of filing this report, over 400 vehicles remain stranded at the Narsinghpur Ferry Terminal in Shariatpur, with the queue growing longer by the hour.
Commuters and drivers are facing immense hardship, and authorities have warned that it may take at least another two days to resolve the crisis.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Repairs in progress
Russell Hossain, the terminal superintendent at Narsinghpur Ferry Terminal, confirmed that repair work on the "Kasturi" and "Kolmilata" is currently underway.
"Our team is working as fast as possible to fix the mechanical issues," he stated.
"We hope to restore normal operations within the next 24 to 48 hours. In the meantime, we are using the remaining small ferries to clear as much of the tailback as possible."
The Shariatpur-Chandpur route is a vital corridor for vehicles from 21 southwestern districts heading towards Chattogram and Cumilla.
The crisis began on 28 January when two primary ferries, "Kasturi" and "Kolmilata", went out of order due to mechanical faults.
Currently, only two smaller ferries are operating, which are reportedly insufficient to handle the massive volume of traffic.
The resulting gridlock has left hundreds of trucks, buses, and private cars idle for days.
Stranded and suffering
The scene at Narsinghpur ferry station is one of growing frustration as stranded drivers and passengers are struggling with a shortage of food, clean water, and proper resting areas.
Ibrahim Gazi, a truck driver carrying gas cylinders from Mongla, has been waiting at the terminal for two days.
We have been sitting since last night. The authorities keep saying the ferry will be ready in an hour, but we are still waiting
"My employer keeps calling me because these cylinders are destined for the Rohingya camps," he said.
"The residents there are suffering due to the lack of gas, but I have no idea when I'll be able to cross."
Similarly, Geeta Rani, who is traveling to Cumilla with her family, expressed her distress.
"We have been sitting since last night. The authorities keep saying the ferry will be ready in an hour, but we are still waiting."
Recurring problem
The frequent breakdowns on this route have highlighted a recurring problem: the reliance on aging and undersized vessels.
Nurul Alam, a regular commuter, noted that while this route is the shortest and most convenient link to Chattogram, it is plagued by mismanagement.
"These old ferries break down almost regularly," he said.
"The number of ferries is too low for the traffic volume, and they are too small. Unless new, larger ferries are deployed, this misery will never end."
