MANIKGANJ, Jan 27, 2023 (BSS) - Poor visibility caused by dense fogs disrupted ferry movements for 8.30 hours on Aricha-Kazirhat route in the early hours of today, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Paturia Ghat officials said.

"Dense fog blanketed the Aricha-Kazirhat river route on the river Jamuna, forcing us to suspend the ferry movements at 9.50 pm on Thursday. The services were resumed 8.40 hours later at 6.30 am today (Friday)," BIWTC's Deputy General Manager (DGM) Shah Mohammad Khaled Newaz said.

He said at midnight after the fog density was increased and the route appeared "almost invisible" when all of the ferries, which were to operate during the subsequent hours, were asked to remain stationed at terminals or on the midstream.

The official said two ferries Begum Sufia Kamal and Shah Enayetpuri were stranded at Kazirhat Ghat and three ferries were remaining at Aricha Ghat in the Aricha-Kazirhat route with vehicles and passengers during the period.

On the other hand, ferry movement in between Paturia and Daulatdia in the Padma was suspended from midnight 2 am to 5.30 am on Friday as the river bed blanketed with dense fog, Paturia Ghat sources said, adding that three ferries Shah Keramot, Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman and Bonolota were stranded at Paturia Ghat, Shaheed Borkat, Bir Shreshtha Jahangir, Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin and Chandra Mollika were at Daulatdia Ghat and seven ferries Shah Jalal, Shah Poran, Shah Mokdum, Hasna Hena, Madhobilota, Rojonigandha and Kumilla were stranded on the middle stream of the river Padma with vehicles and passengers.

 Officials said the fog simultaneously forced suspension of movement of other vessels like engine-run country boats and launches in the river routes.

They said the visibility largely returned at about 6.30 am on the Aricha-Kazirhat route. BIWTC, DGM Newaz said the ferry movement is now normal, adding that ferry movement between Paturia and Daulatdia resumed at 5.20 am on Friday.