The vehicles were found stuck in the traffic jam from the ground zero of the terminal to the 6 km zone on the Dhaka-Khulna highway on Monday.
Transport workers and passengers blamed the ferry crisis, but the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, or BIWTC, said trucks loaded with goods were responsible for the traffic jam.
Each vehicle boards the ferry after waiting for hours, transport workers and passengers said.
Authorities have decided to add two more ferries to the Paturia-Daulatdia waterway to alleviate suffering during Eid trips to southern districts of Bangladesh, but they have not yet launched the services. They have also resumed services at Daulatdia terminal n°2 but no ferry has anchored there so far.
“I found myself stranded 5 km from the Daulatdia terminal at 6 a.m. We covered only 2 km in two hours. It will take more than two hours to get on the ferry,” said Rafiqul Islam, a passenger on the Golden Line Paribahan bus.
“It’s hard to survive amid the scorching sun and hot weather. The area also lacks adequate toilets,” said Sumaiya, another bus passenger who arrived in Daulatdia at 6 a.m. with her child.
“I arrived at the terminal on Sunday. It’s Monday noon but I’m still stuck in traffic,” truck driver Mohiuddin said.
“The ferry crisis has aggravated the situation. This will not change if the number of ferries does not increase,” said a traffic sergeant at the Daulatdia terminal.
“Truck pressure is high as ferry services for trucks loaded with goods will remain suspended ahead of Eid-ul-Fit,” said Prafulla Chouhan, River Port Manager of BIWTC in Daulatdia.
“Sixteen of the 19 ferries on the river route are currently in service. A few ferries have been abandoned due to technical issues. The situation will be brought under control when the passage of trucks is closed.
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