Again the liveliness is on both sides After about two decades, Aricha-Kazirhat ferry started plying.

After overcoming all fears, the long-awaited Aricha-Kazirhat ferry service has finally started. Begum Rokeya, Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman and Ketki will run three ferries on this route.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated the event on Saturday noon.

BIWTC and BIWTA officials and local people’s representatives including Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, Golam Farooq Prince MP, Ahmed Firoz Kabir MP and Manikganj-1 MP Naimur Rahman Durjay, BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq were present.

Earlier, on February 4, Aricha-Kazirhat ferry started operating experimentally. On that day, a ferry left Kazirhat for Aricha Ghat on an experimental basis. On the other hand, a ferry left Arichaghat and reached Kazirhat Ghat.

For so long, millions of people in 16 northern districts, including Pabna, Natore, Rajshahi and Chapainawanganj, have been traveling from Kazirhat to Dhaka in speedboats and engine-driven shallow boats at risk of their lives. It takes up to 7-8 hours to reach Dhaka by road via Bangabandhu Bridge. It is possible to reach the destination in just 4/5 hours by river. The ferry can be crossed in one to one and a half hours.

BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq told the media that the ferry service was launched with a view to reduce the pressure on the Bangabandhu Bridge and to reduce the pressure on the Bangabandhu Bridge.

Although there is a risk of life in crossing these vehicles on the river, these ordinary passengers have to pay extra fare on the road and bridge. That is why low-income people were crossing the river in trawlers at the risk of their lives.

It is learned that the ferry service was shifted from Aricha to Paturia on February 22, 2001 to reduce the distance of the Padma Jamuna. From then on, the traditional Aricha-Kazirhat ferry started losing its splendor. Hundreds of small and big businesses of thousands of people were shut down. However, these two ghats have been recaptured.

According to the information, the ferry service was started on 31 March 1983 with a ferry named Karnafuli on the Aricha-Kazirhat route. Then 26 small and big ferries were added to that route. After the inauguration of the Jamuna Bridge in 1997, the importance of Arich Ghat began to decline. The ferry service was shifted from Aricha to Paturia on 22 February 2001 to reduce the crisis and distance of the Padma-Jamuna. Finally, on 15 November 2002, the last two platoons were taken from Aricha Ghat to Paturia Ghat, ending the ferry service on the Aricha-Kazirhat route. On February 26, 2021, the ferry service resumed on that routes.