Ferry pontoon not salvaged in 13 days

A ferry pontoon, two launches and six motor boats capsized in the river when a twister lashed the area on May 22 midnight. The launches and the motor boats were rescued but the ferry pontoon is yet to be salvaged.

BIWTC officials said at present there are two pontoons at Paturia ghat. Ferry movement on Paturia-Daulatdia and PaturiaKazirhat is being disrupted creating traffic jam at the ghat. Initially there were four pontoons.

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A team of high officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and BIWTA visited the ghat area on Friday. BIWTC general manager (GM-marine) Azam Hasan Khan, BIWTA joint director (marine) Emdadul Haque, BIWTC deputy general managers (DGMs) Atahar Ali, Saheb Uddin, BIWTA DGMs Amir Hossain and Joynal Abedin were included in the team.

While visiting the ghat, BIWTC GM Azam Hasan Khan told this correspondent he expects salvage of the pontoon within a week.