UNB Munshiganj correspondent reported that ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route were halted for over half an hour on Friday morning due to bad weather.

Mohammad Foysal, assistant manager, Mawa terminal, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said over 15 ferries ran in the route but over 100 vehicles were waiting in queue to cross the river until Friday afternoon.

Witnesses said thousands of people have been crossing Padma River without maintaining social distancing through Shimulia terminal.

A total of 87 launches and 300 speed boats are plying on Shimulia-Kathalbari and Shimulia-Majhikandi routes.

Hilal Uddin, traffic inspector, Shimulia Terminal, said movements of all kinds of vehicles have already become normal amid coronavirus infection threat.

In Manikganj, adverse weather condition in the morning, interrupted launch services for one hour on Paturia-Daulatdia route, UNB local correspondent reports.

Some hundreds of vehicles were forced to stand on queue in the terminal area, he reported.

Sources at BIWTC, Aricha terminal, said they suspended launch services at around 10am thanks to heavy rain along with gusty winds.

The services resumed at 11am, said Nurul Anwar Milon, terminal supervisor of Aricha Launch Owner’s Samity.  

Aftab Uddin, traffic inspector, Aricha, BIWTA, said they suspended launch services for about an hour due to extreme weather.

Abu Abdullah, manager, BIWTA, Daulatdia, said 14 ferries among 15 have been running on Paturia-Daulatdia route.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Friday forecast light to moderate rain and thunder showers accompanied by temperature gusty/squally wind at most places over Chattogram, Barishal & Sylhet divisions and at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur & Khulna divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country.

BMD forecast the weather for the next 24 hours commencing at 9 am on Friday.