Thursday, 21st May 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 30th March 2026, 4:45 AM
Dense fog yesterday morning caused a suspension of ferry services between Doulatdia in Rajbari and Paturia in Manikganj for nearly three hours, disrupting the vital waterway transport across the Padma River.
According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha office, the disruption began shortly after 4:00 a.m. when two ferries departing from Doulatdia—Enayetpuri (Ro-Ro type) and Baigar (K-type)—became enveloped in thick fog midstream. Visibility deteriorated suddenly in the Padma River basin, rendering navigation hazardous. Concerned for passenger safety, authorities suspended all ferry and small boat movements along the Doulatdia-Paturia route from 4:30 a.m.
The Aricha office reported that fog formation had started around midnight and gradually intensified. By 4:00 a.m., the river was shrouded in near-total fog, forcing the two ferries to anchor mid-river. With visibility near zero, the vessels could not proceed safely, prompting immediate operational halts.
Other ferries anchored at various ghats along both banks as precautionary measures:
| Ghat | Ferries Anchored | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Paturia 3 | Khanjahan Ali, Keramat Ali | Ro-Ro (large) |
| Paturia 3 | Bonolota | Utility (small) |
| Paturia 4 | Bhasha Soinik Dr. Golam Mawla, Shah Poran | Ro-Ro |
| Paturia 5 | Shah Makhdoom | Ro-Ro |
| Paturia 5 | Hasna Hena | Utility |
| Doulatdia 4 | Dhaka | K-type (medium) |
| Doulatdia 7 | Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman | Ro-Ro |
The fog also affected adjacent roads and highways, causing vehicles to move at reduced speed with headlights on, and in some stretches, traffic was temporarily halted due to severely limited visibility.
Acting Deputy General Manager of BIWTC Aricha, Abdus Salam, stated that the sudden fog had rendered navigation unsafe. “When the two ferries became trapped midstream around 4:00 a.m., we had no choice but to suspend operations to prevent accidents,” he said. Ferry services resumed gradually from 6:45 a.m. as the fog lifted, allowing the anchored vessels to return to the ghats and normal operations to continue.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of river transport to abrupt weather changes, particularly dense fog, which can severely impair visibility and pose serious safety risks to passengers and crew. Authorities continue to monitor meteorological conditions closely to prevent similar disruptions.
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