Launch and ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route will not ply at night time due to increasing strong current and high tide in Padma, authorities said Monday night. According to the announcement, the night services were suspended until further notice. However, the services will be open during the day time. READ: Ferry with heavy vehicles banned from plying under Padma bridge: Khalid  BIWTC joint-general manager Ahmed Ali said, “The tides are getting high which is why ferry service remain closed at night for the time being.” During the day, the ferry to Shimulia will run through the 12th and 13th pillars of the Padma Bridge. The Banglabazar-bound ferry will move through the 6th and 7th pillars, he said. During the day, a limited number of vehicles cross on the five available ferries. So, he requested the emergency vehicles to use alternative routes. After the announcement services were suspended around 6 pm Monday. Shimulia River Port Naval Safety and Traffic Management Assistant Director Shahadat Hossain said that according to the decision of the concerned committee, the ferry movements will remain closed from 6:30 pm to avoid accidents due to strong currents in the river. The decision was taken for the safety of passengers, launches and staff.   READ: Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route suspended for bad weather The new schedule would be implemented from Tuesday, he said.

A floating lighted buoy has been placed Sunday at three kilometers south to the span number 12 and 13 of the Padma bridge to help ferries avoid colliding with the piers while passing under it. The decision to place the buoy was taken in a meeting of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport and Communication (BIWTC), Bangladesh Armed Forces, and the bridge authority to determine procedures to protect the bridge piers from collision with ferries on Shimulia-Banglabazar route. As ferries plying from Bangla Bazar to Shimulia have to face a strong current immediately after passing the Hajra channel just 1.3 km away from the bridge it becomes difficult for the navigators to control the turn that led to consecutive incidents of collisions in the area in last few days, according to the authorities. Also read: Ferries plying around Padma Bridge to get outer rubber layer Now the ferries will target the buoy after passing Hajra channel and will be able to adjust the heading control with the current before reaching near the bridge, they said. Already ferries started moving targeting the buoy and the authority plans to place a spherical buoy later after conducting a hydrographic survey on Monday. Meanwhile for navigation on Banglabazar-Shimulia route ferries were suggested to move through the span 11,12,13 and 14 area. Also read: Ferry with heavy vehicles banned from plying under Padma bridge: Khalid As the vessels moving on Shimulia-Banglabazar route will move against the current and less likely to lose control, authorities suggested they use span 6,7 and the adjoining two spans according to the situation.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday said the ferries that ply the Shumulia-Banglabazar Ferry Ghat route will install an outer layer of rubber for the security of the Padma Bridge. The layer of rubber will act to cushion the blow from the vessels' bodies on the concrete pillars. “An order has been issued to install outer rubber layers on ferries,” he said after visiting Shimulia Ferry Ghat in Munshiganj. The state minister said they feel embarrassed at the alarming frequency with which vessels have been hitting the pillars of the Padma Bridge. “Steps have been taken in this regard. There were some instructions. But we noticed laxity to some extent in following the instructions,” he said adding that they would sit in a high-level meeting soon to decide the next steps to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. Read: 20 hurt as ferry hits Padma bridge pillar