Padma erosion disrupts ferry services in Goalanda

Ferry services from the third and fourth terminals in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari district have been suspended due to erosion caused by the Padma River.

Besides, a residence ended up swallowed by the river but four other houses were shifted to a safer location.

Earlier on September 6, the ferry operations from terminal No 5 were also suspended due to river erosion. Currently, 10 ferries are operating on the Daulatdia-Paturia Route. 

Locals said the erosion started at terminal 3 on the bank of the river in Siddique Kazi Para upazila around 2am early Thursday, as a result, Salam Befari lost his house.

An area of around 100 metres square went into the gorge of the mighty river forcing the authorities concerned to suspend activities of terminals 3 and 4, they said.

Abdus Sattar, assistant general manager (marine) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) in the Aricha office, said on information he rushed to the spot around midnight and ordered suspension of operations at terminal 3 to avoid danger.

Besides, the operations at the terminal No 4 were also suspended due to the erosion on Thursday morning, he said.

Md Jahirul Islam, executive engineer of BIWTA in the Aricha Office, said, they have already ordered to dump geobags filled with sand in the erosion-prone areas to avoid any untoward incident.

He hoped dumping of the geobags at terminal 3 would be completed within Thursday night but it would take time to start operating it.