Ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route have been suspended due to poor navigability, leaving 300 goods-laden vehicles stranded on the river.Nasir Mohammad Chowdhury, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at the Aricha point, said several ferries were stuck on hidden shoals on Friday due to the poor navigability in the Padma River, forcing the authorities to halt ferry services multiple times.Finally, ferry services on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were suspended at 10 pm on Friday after a ferry got stuck on a hidden shoal in a remote area near Aricha, he said. Ferry capsize in Padma: sunken ferry, six more vehicles yet to be retrievedA total of 300 goods-laden vehicles were stranded on both the Padma River due to the suspension of ferry services.The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) started dredging work, and ferry services will resume once the work is completed.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended launch services from Chandpur to all routes as Cyclone Mocha approaches the coast. BIWTA issued a notice in this regard on Friday night, said Deputy Director of BIWTA Shahadat Hossain. The launch services remained suspended from 11 pm on Friday. The order will remain in force until further notice. It also asked the river vessels to anchor in safe places. Also read: Cyclone Mocha: Over 1000 shelters ready in Ctg Meanwhile, Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan, said the local administration has opened 353 cyclone shelters in the district and the Upazila Nirbahi Officers have been asked to evacuate people from char areas including Chandpur Sadar, Matlab North and Haimchar upazilas to safe places as soon as possible.  

The government has restricted motorcycles from passenger launches during Eid-ul-Azha after banning the two-wheeled vehicles from highways for a week. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority imposed the restriction to make sure passengers do not face trouble while getting on or off the vessels, Jahangir Alam Khan, public relations officer of the shipping ministry, told UNB Wednesday. Also Read: PM seeks people’s support to cut power subsidy amid hard times

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has published a job circular for the recruitment of manpower. The organization will employ 35 employees in five categories. Interested candidates need to apply by filling out an online form. 1. Position Name: Assistant Port and Transport Officer / Assistant Director / TatsamNumber of posts: 5 Eligibility: Second-class post-graduate degree with first-class honors or first-class post-graduate degree in any subject from a recognized university. Age range: 21-30 years Salary Scale: TK. 22,000–53,060 (Grade-9) Read ‘Rider Fair’ begins Monday in city; 20,000 people to get jobs 2. Position Name: Assistant Coordinating Officer / Tatsam Number of posts: 1 Eligibility: Must have a second-class post-graduate degree or a four-year term bachelor's (honors) degree from a recognized university. Age range: 21-30 years Salary Scale: TK.18,000–37,640 (Grade-10) 3. Position Name: Senior Instructor, DEPTC Number of posts: 2 Eligibility: Higher Petition Officer (C-Man Branch) of Bangladesh Navy with Higher Education Test (HET) or SSC pass. Or First Class Inland Masters Certificate with HSC pass and five years experience. Or First Class Inland Mastership Certificate and must have at least five years of work experience as a Master in Charge or Senior Master Pilot on Ship. Must have a good command of English writing and speaking. However, the condition is that the job will be made permanent after the successful completion of a one-year apprenticeship course from DEPTC after recruitment. Age limit: 21-40 years Salary Scale: TK.16,000-36,640 (Grade-10) Read Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Recruitment Circular 2022: Job Circular for the Position of Officer Cadet 4. Position Name: Supervising Work Maintenance, Warehouse Assistant, and Assistant / Tatsam Number of posts: 5 Qualifications: Bachelor's degree Age limit: 21-30 years Salary Scale: TK.10,200-24,60 (Grade-14)  5. Position Name: Duty Collector / Tatsam Number of posts: 22 Eligibility: Must have typing skills with HSC pass. Age limit: 21-30 years Salary Scale: TK.9,300-22,490 (Grade-16) Age limit: BIWTA Candidates have to mention their age on June 1, 2022. The age of departmental candidates can be relaxed up to 40 years. In the case of children and disabled persons of Bir Muktijoddha / Shaheed Bir Muktijoddha, the age is 32 years. The age of the grandchildren of the heroic freedom fighter is 30 years. READ: Career Opportunity in JavaScript: How to be a JS programmer How to apply: BIWTA Interested candidates should apply by filling out the form through BIWTA website. Detailed information on application procedure, fee submission, and recruitment can be found on the same website and from this link. (https://www.jobsbiwta.gov.bd/) Application fee Within no more than 72 hours of filling up the online form, you have to deposit TK. 320 / - for posts 1 to 3 and Tk. Application deadline: 30 June 2022.

At least 34 illegal establishments along the Shitalakhya river were demolished in an eviction drive in Rupganj upazila on Monday. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) led by its executive magistrate Shobhan Rangsar conducted a drive in Tarabo bazar in Tarabo municipality area of the upazila and demolished 34 illegal establishments including six tin-shed houses and two-storey market. READ: All illegal occupants over city canals to be evicted: Minister The drive was ran from from 11 am to 4 pm. “As per the directives of the Supreme Court, the construction work of installing two boundary pillars along the river banks of the river is going on and a drive was conducted for fishing the construction work of walkways along the river,” he said. READ: Over 18,000 of 60,000 illegal river grabbers evicted: NRCC Chairman

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has revoked its previous order that hiked passenger fare by 60 per with effect from April 1 after passenger vessels were required to operate with half the capacity due to Covid restrictions. The BIWTA issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday, said Jahangir Alam Khan, senior information officer. According to the order, the passenger vessels will follow from Wednesday (August 11, 2021) the previous fare chart issued on April 23, 2013. READ: Cyclone Yaas: BIWTA suspends river transports as a precaution The government has decided to ease the lockdown from Wednesday allowing public transport, shops and shopping malls to reopen. As the Delta variant has sharply been fuelling case surges, Bangladesh saw a record high 264 deaths again as health authorities came up with their 24-hour report on Tuesday. READ: Water transport workers to stage demo in front of BIWTA Sunday  Besides, 11,164 more people tested positive during the period out of 47,424 samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

River vessels will be allowed to operate from Saturday evening to Sunday 12 pm to carry factory workers, said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Saturday. To carry the workers of RMG and export-oriented factories, the government has allowed the vessel movement, said a media release issued by the BIWTA in the evening. The BIWTA requested vessel owners, masters, drivers, staff and passengers to follow health guidelines during the period. Read: No decision yet on lockdown extension: Farhad Although public transport movement remained suspended, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka on the 9th day of the lockdown on Saturday following the government’s announcement that mills and factories will reopen on Sunday (Aug 1). Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj saw a huge crowd as people from south western districts who were coming back to the capital to join their work. The vessel movement was suspended from July 23, 6 am as the government reimposed a countrywide ‘stricter’ lockdown till August 5, midnight as per a Cabinet Division’s order. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the BIWTA, however, allowed vessels to carry passengers at half of their capacities on condition of maintaining health guidelines from July 14 midnight to 6am on July 23. A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is any emergency.

All water transports, including ferries, launches, speedboats and trawlers, will halt operation from 6 am Friday as the country begins another round of strict lockdown fearing a spread of the coronavirus infections following Eid celebration. As per the July 13 cabinet decision, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) ordered water transports services to remain closed from 6 am on July 23 to 12 am on  August 5, said a media release on Thursday. Also read: Strict lockdown from Friday, again Meanwhile, no passenger vehicles and transports will be permitted on ferry from Friday (July 23) morning, as per another notification from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) issued on July 9. However, emergency vehicles and ambulances would be allowed to cross in compliance with strict health guidelines. Also read: Bangladesh loses 187 more lives as Covid situation remains girm Both the notifications said that action would be taken against those who disobey the orders.

Rapid decline in the water level, strong current and torrential rainfall in the last few days have put the Daulatdia Ferry Terminal area at high risk of erosion which could potentially force partial shutdown of the key terminal.

The Elisha Ferry and Launch terminals in Bhola were submerged and the pontoons got heavily damaged due to all day long rains accompanied by gusty wind on Wednesday, causing great sufferings to locals and commuters.