In a rush to return to their workplaces, Dhaka-bound factory workers flocked to Shimulia jetty on Saturday as the government allowed factories to reopen from Sunday.
Workers from 21 southern districts of Bangladesh started their dash for Dhaka on Saturday morning.
As speedboat and launch movement is suspended due to the lockdown, the passengers were seen crowding the ferries in thousands.
The number of vehicles on the ferries was much less than the number of Dhaka-bound commuters.
Social distance and hygiene rules were mostly ignored as many were traveling in close quarters.
Getting off the ferries, passengers were seen rushing to their respective destinations on different vehicles with three to four times extra fare.
Meanwhile, a similar scene was observed on the ferries leaving from Banglabazar ghat.
At present 10 ferries are plying on this route.
Zakir Hossain, traffic police inspector of Shimulia ghat said there is immense pressure of Dhaka-bound commuters and vehicles in the ghat.
Shafiqul Islam, deputy general manager of BIWTC Shimulia ghat said, "Only a few vehicles are waiting at our ghat. However, a lot of vehicles are waiting at Banglabazar ghat and the ferries from that side have a lot of passenger pressure.”
He hoped the pressure will subside after Sunday.
Kakoli Akhter, a garment worker in Savar, said she was rushing towards her workplace because she heard from people that garment factories will reopen from Sunday.
Al Amin, another garment worker, said, "Since Eid-ul-Azha, I have been wondering when the garments will reopen. I got a call last night that our garment factory will open from Sunday. So I left my village home in Gopalganj for Dhaka.”
