A major maritime incident occurred on Monday morning at approximately 11:20 am when a ferry ramp suddenly detached and collapsed into the water while the vessel was docking. The impact caused a nearby speedboat, carrying 25 passengers, to tilt precariously under the force of the current. Panicked by the instability of the craft, several passengers jumped into the water to escape, though all managed to swim safely to the shore without sustaining any injuries.
The collapse rendered the docking point inoperable, leaving 23 vehicles, including nine motorcycles, trapped on board the ferry for nearly three hours. A video circulating on social media captured the tense moments as passengers of various ages scrambled from the water to the riverbank. One witness, Mohammad Sharif, described the scene as harrowing, noting that the combination of the crashing metal ramp and the tilting speedboat prompted immediate fear among the commuters.
year-old worker stationed at the terminal, revealed that the ramp had been in a dilapidated state prior to the incident. According to the ferry’s master, Amir Hossain, the structural integrity of the ramp’s connection to the pontoon had been compromised for the past week. He asserted that repeated notifications regarding the hazardous condition were sent to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), with specific warnings that failing to conduct necessary repairs would inevitably lead to a serious crisis.
The incident has reignited concerns regarding the management and maintenance of maritime infrastructure on this route. Khademul Islam, a coordinator for the advocacy group Amra Sandwipbashi, criticized the cycle of blame that frequently occurs between BIWTA officials and ferry operators following such mishaps. He emphasized the urgent necessity for the deployment of skilled masters and the appointment of more accountable officials to ensure public safety.
When questioned about the negligence, BIWTA Port Officer Nayan Shil declined to provide a direct response, directing inquiries to another official, Mohammad Salim. However, repeated attempts to contact Joint Director Mohammad Salim for comment on the maintenance failures went unanswered. The disruption caused by the incident underscores systemic deficiencies in port oversight and the immediate risks posed to daily commuters navigating these river crossings.
