Dhaka, Dec 27 (V7N) — Ferry services on key river routes in Daulatdia (Rajbari) and Paturia (Manikganj) were temporarily suspended Friday evening due to dense fog, severely reducing visibility and creating safety risks for vessels. The decision was implemented by the ferry authorities from 7:15 pm.

The fog caused river marking lights to become indistinct, prompting authorities to halt all ferry movements to prevent possible accidents. Passengers, including those traveling by buses, trucks, and private cars, faced severe inconvenience, with long queues forming at the ferry terminals.

Muhammad Salauddin, Assistant General Manager (Trade) of BWTC Daulatdia, stated that visibility on the river had dropped to dangerous levels by early evening, necessitating the temporary suspension. Ferry operations will resume once the fog subsides and conditions are deemed safe.

Meanwhile, in Narayanganj Sadar, two workers were found dead after a sand-laden bulkhead sank following a collision with a passenger launch. The incident occurred Friday morning at 6:00 am near a private dock in Dharmaganj, Buriganga River, when the Sundarban-16 launch, traveling from Barisal to Dhaka, struck the anchored bulkhead. Five workers were asleep in a cabin inside the bulkhead; three jumped into the river and reached the shore safely, but two—Zahirul Islam Shakil (25) from Patuakhali and Mohammad Hasan (20) from Rajapur, Jhalokathi—went missing.

A joint rescue operation by the River Police, Fire Service, and Coast Guard recovered the bodies around 4:30 pm. The deceased were handed over to their families, and the responsible launch has been seized for legal proceedings.

Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Executive Officer SM Foyez Uddin confirmed the recovery of the bodies and noted that appropriate legal action will be taken against those responsible for the collision.

This series of events highlights the dangers posed by poor visibility on Bangladesh’s busy inland waterways and the challenges faced by both authorities and commuters during severe winter fog.

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