Dailynewsun Report:
The government has deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members at all ferry ghats in the country since Saturday evening to prevent the influx of homebound people in tackling the coronavirus outbreak.
Confirming the information, BIWTC chairman Syed Md. Tajul Islam said an adequate number of BGB has been deployed since Saturday evening in collaboration with Munshiganj and Manikganj district administrations.
Earlier, during an exchange of views with reporters on Saturday afternoon, Manikganj DC SM Ferdous said “one of the three BGB teams would be at the entrance to Manikganj, the second at Barbaria and the other at Paturia Ghat.”
3 ferries leave Paturia with a large number of passengers
Three ferries on Saturday left the Paturia Ferry Terminal for Daulatdia Terminal amid pressure from a huge numbers of passengers.
Despite the suspension of ferry services as per government directive, thousands of passengers were seen crowding at Paturia Ferry Terminal in Manikganj on Saturday.
At one stage, the agitated passengers boarded the “Madhabilata” ferry and pressed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) authorities to operate the ferry, reports our Manikganj correspondent.
BIWTC authorities were forced to operate the ferry from Paturia around 10:00am with four ambulances and passengers to Daulatdia in Rajbari.
Later, around 12:15pm, two more ferries named “Keramat Ali” and “Birsreshtha Matiur Rahman” — with passengers and motorcycles — left for Daulatdia.
Police personnel including Additional Superintendent of Police Tania Sultana of Shibalaya tried to control the crowd for three hours.
“A large number of passengers arrived at the terminal. Then, with the help of the district administration and the police, it was decided to operate the ferries,” said Tania.
