MANIKGANJ, Feb 27, 2021 (BSS) – Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat
route resumed on Saturday after nearly two decades.
The ferry service remained suspended since 2001 due to poor navigability.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, inaugurated the
ferry services on the route at Aricha point in Manikganj district this
morning.
Speaking on the occasion, the state minister said, “The long-awaited ferry
service has been re-launched as a government’s gift to people travelling to
the north-western part of the country on the occasion of the birth centenary
of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman, Commodore
Golam Sadek, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Chairman
Sayeed Md Tajul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj S M Ferdous, SP Rifat
Rahman Shamim, Manikganj District Council Chairman Advocate Golam Mohiuddin
and local leaders and activists of Awami League were present on the occasion.
With the resumption of the ferry services, the demand of the locals has
been fulfilled. Commuters now can reach Kazirhat in just one and a half hour
from Aricha point while the return journey will take just an hour and 20
minutes.
The water boat service on the route has been officially re-launched with
one Ro-Ro and two medium-sized ferries.
After inaugurating the ferry service, the state minister joined a public
meeting at Kazirhat in Pabna and visited the newly built Marine Academy at
Nagarbari in Pabna.