The situation is different since last year as the global coronavirus pandemic continues to rattle the world and especially countries in South Asia of late. COURTESY
The authorities, apparently failed to aware people of keeping themselves and the lives of their near and dear ones, especially elders protected from being infected with Covid, have deployed members of Border Guard Bangladesh at ferry ghats to curb the exodus of homebound people.
BB members have been deployed at Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Banglabazar routes in Manikganj and Munshiganj from early Sunday. But ignoring the risk of coronavirus infection, Eid holidaymakers crowded at Shimulia ghat in Munshiganj for the third day.
It’s just five days till Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival in the country, and people are gushing out of the capital like every other year to celebrate the holiday with family.
However, the situation is different since last year as the global coronavirus pandemic continues to rattle the world and especially countries in South Asia of late.
In order to stop the deadly second wave of coronavirus and its new variant from spreading, the government has deployed teams of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on the to stop the mad rush of homebound people.
Earlier, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended daytime ferry services on the routes, although three ferries transported ambulances and hearse vehicles.
Since the long-distance transportation was suspended since the lockdown began, Paturia ferry terminal on Sunday saw a mad rush of people, desperate to travel back home ahead of Eid, defying lockdown restrictions.
“Two-Three ferries have been kept in operation for emergency services,” said Zillur Rahman, deputy general manager (DGM) of BIWTC Aricha office.
“Passengers are trying to utilise the emergency ferry service to cross the river whenever the ferries are making a round back,” Zillur Rahman said adding that they are being allowed on humanitarian grounds.
On average, about two and a half thousand vehicles pass through Paturia-Daulatdia ferry ghat area every day, which is one of the main routes connecting 21 south-western districts of the country with the capital.
An influx of people could be seen heading towards the terminals on the Dhaka-Aricha highway amid scorching heat and BGB check-posts were seen letting these people off easily on “humanitarian grounds”.
Terminal-bound passengers are being dropped off at the Dhamrai section of the Barbaria Bridge. But most are covering the remaining areas on foot.
Jashore-bound passenger Alfaz Mia said he had to change his vehicle three times to reach Nabinagar from Dhaka, after which he rented a private car from Nabinagar and left for Jashore.
“Every year we travel back home through many difficulties, this year is no different so we are heading home knowing all the suffering,” said Asmaul Husna, another passenger.
According to Manikganj Deputy Commissioner SM Ferdous, two platoons of BGB along with magistrates have taken positions at the two entrances of the district. There is also a platoon of BGB and Magistrates in the ferry area.
“No passenger will be allowed to pass through these check-posts without valid reasons,” he said adding “Strict measures have been taken to ensure hygiene rules among the passengers where careless passengers and vehicle workers are being fined for breaking rules.”
“Police have been working relentlessly since Sunday morning and that there has been no way for any passenger bus to enter Manikganj district directly from Dhaka, said Officer-in-Charge of Saturia Police Station Ashraful Alam.
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