Another ferry hits Padma bridge pillar, master suspended

At least 25 passengers and several staff were injured as a Ro Ro Ferry that commutes between Shuimulia of Munshiganj and Banglabazar of Madaripur hit a pillar of under-construction Padma bridge in Munshiganj on Friday (July 23).

The ferry hit pillar 17 of the bridge at around 9:30am, said Abdur Rahman, in-charge inland master of the ferry, Shah Jalal.

This was the second incident of a Ro Ro Ferry hitting the pillar of Padma Bridge. Earlier on Tuesday, another Ro Ro Ferry, Shah Mukhdum, hit pillar 16.

Abdur Rahman said the electric circuit of the ferry got dislodged and that jammed the steering when there were near the pillar. The ferry went out of control due to strong current and hit the bridge.

However, the ferry was later brought to the ghat no. 3 in Shimulia safely, he added.

Several passengers and staff of the Shah Jalal said it left Banglabazar, Madaripur with 33 vehicles and around 600-700 passengers for Shimulia around 8:45am. It was passing through the pillar no. 16 and 17. The ferry lost control because of strong current and hit pillar 17 that injured 15 to 20 passengers and 10 staff of the vessel.

Deputy Manager of Shimulia ghat of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Shafiqul Islam said, “We’ve heard about the accident. Perhaps 1 or 2 persons were injured but I don’t know how the accident occurred.”

Inspector of Char Janajat river police outpost at Banglabazar ghat, Abdul Razzaq said, “A Ro Ro Ferry hit a pillar of Padma Bridge due to strong current. Though the ferry was not damaged much, some passengers were injured in the chaos. The injured passengers were treated at Shimulia ghat.”

Shah Jalal’s in-charge inland master Abdur Rahman has been suspended for his failure to operate the ferry properly, said a notification of BIWTC.

A committee has been constituted to investigate the incident, it said.

BIWTC director (Business) SM Ashiquzzaman was made the convenor of the committee that was asked to submit its report within three days.