Mad rush of Eid travellers has been prevailing at Shimulia fery terminal in Munshiganj. Holidaymakers crammed in vehicles to reach destination to observe the Eid festival.
Ferries and launches are struggling to ply homebound commuters as the speedboat services have been halted due to turbulence in the river.
However, despite coronavirus cautionary was asked to follow commuters were hardly seen to maintain social distancing.
Law enforcers agencies were vigilant on Sunday (July 18) to check whether passengers are abiding by safety protocols, no cops were seen till the report was written on Monday (July 19).
Ferry terminal sources said, holidaymakers thronged the terminal since the wee hours on Monday. Private vehicles took to the street remarkably.
Sources of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said, 16 out of 19 ferries are moving to carry passengers and vehicles. Despite repeated announcement in loudspeaker to abide by Covid-19 restrictions, commuters barely pay any heed.
In the Shimulia-Banglabazar route, 86 launches are operative to carry passengers. Though these vessels were asked to move keeping half of the capacity vacant, launches are carrying three to four times more passengers than the ability.
If any launch anchors the terminal, passengers rush to confirm a position in it. No measures of ensuring use of masks and washing hands were seen.
Local administration said, additional members of law enforcing agencies have been deployed at all of the entry points of Shimulia ghat. Pressure of commuters was mounting since the morning, police said.
“Passengers have to stand queues to get onboard ferry or launch. We tried to assure maintenance of safety protocols. We are also observing if the transport staffs are working to ensure safety guidelines,” Mawa naval police in-charge Sirajul Kabir told The Report.
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