Return rush at Paturia ferry terminal

Hundreds of people thronged the Paturia ferry terminal on Saturday morning to return to Dhaka after celebrating Eid with their families at their native places in southern Bangladesh.

Many of them claimed that they were left with no option but to board buses charging more to avoid travelling on overcrowded ferries. They alleged that the bus operators were taking advantage of the huge rush at the ferry ghat. 

Farhad Hossain, returning from Jashore, said, “I am going back to my workplace with my wife and two children. The passenger bus we boarded charged us Tk 800 for four seats, which is double the usual fare."

Jahanara Begum, a garment worker, said, “I usually travel to Nabinagar in Savar by bus. While the regular fare is Tk 80, I was forced to shell out Tk 150 for a seat on Saturday."

A reality check by UNB revealed that some ferries were carrying passengers beyond the permitted capacity.

Deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport and Corporation (BIWTC), Shah Khaled Newaz, said more ferries had been pressed into service to cater to the return rush.