Bagerhat, Jun 27 (V7N) – A 24-hour ferry service has officially been launched on the Mongla River in Bagerhat, ending more than two decades of limited operations and providing year-round relief to workers in the Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and surrounding industrial areas.
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam inaugurated the round-the-clock ferry service at the Mongla Ferry Ghat on Saturday morning.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the state minister said the initiative was taken to make commuting easier for thousands of EPZ and industrial workers who depend on the river crossing every day.
To accommodate office commuters, he said ferries will operate simultaneously from both sides of the river between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Additional ferry services will also be available from both terminals during office closing hours to ensure smooth transportation for workers.
Sheikh Faridul Islam further announced that the government will carry out regular dredging of the Mongla-Ghashiakhali Channel to maintain navigability and ensure uninterrupted ferry operations throughout the year.
Although ferry services on the Mongla River were introduced in 2003, operations had long been restricted to high-tide periods. During low tide, services remained suspended, causing significant inconvenience to commuters and disrupting transportation.
The introduction of a full-time ferry service is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel hardships for local residents and workers, and facilitate smoother movement between the two riverbanks while supporting economic activities in the region.
END/SMA/AJ
