Significant mismanagement has been reported on the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry route, one of Bangladesh’s most vital river crossings. As of April 20, only two of the seven ferry terminals at the Daulatdia end remain operational, while the No. 7 terminal has been closed for over a week due to pontoon repairs. New pontoons purchased for the route are lying unused and rusting, while old pontoons are being patched up to keep services running. The slow pace of repair work has raised uncertainty about when the closed terminal will reopen.

Local residents have expressed concern that the unused pontoons, worth millions of taka, are deteriorating due to neglect. Earlier, a bus accident at the No. 3 terminal on March 25 caused temporary closure and severe traffic congestion, but users say no visible improvements have followed. With only two terminals functioning, vehicles including trucks and buses are facing long waits, increasing both costs and travel time.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation said repair work began on April 12 and promised that the closed terminal would reopen soon. Observers warn that without faster project implementation and better management, the route’s operational crisis could worsen.