Pabna, Apr 17 (V7N) – A ferry navigating the Padmanadhi River in the Nazirganj area of Pabna lost control during a sudden storm on Thursday afternoon, crashing into a floating fish farm. While the ferry, its passengers, and vehicles escaped significant harm, the owners of the fish farm are claiming damages amounting to Tk 3.8 million due to the destruction of their floating pond nets.

"A ferry named Camelia lost control and crashed into a floating fish farm in the Nazirganj area of ​​the Padmanadhi River in Pabna... the farm owners claim that at least 3.8 million taka of damage was caused by the broken nets of the floating pond," reported a Pabna Correspondent.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 PM local time in the Nazirganj Ferry Ghat area.

"The accident occurred at around 2:30 pm on Thursday (April 17) in the Nazirganj Ferry Ghat area," the report confirmed.

According to local residents and port authorities, the ferry Camelia was caught in a storm while en route from the Dhawapara ferry ghat in Rajbari to the Nazirganj ferry ghat in Pabna. Amidst the turbulent weather, the ferry reportedly lost control and collided with the Nazirganj floating fish farm. The impact resulted in the submersion of 40 floating fish farm cages, along with several boats. Fish worth an estimated Tk 2.6 million within these cages were released into the river. Fish farmers and locals estimate the total damage, including nets, drums, and boats, to be around Tk 3.8 million.

"According to local and port authorities, the ferry Camelia was caught in a storm while going from Rajbari's Dhawapara ferry ghat to Nazirganj ferry ghat. At that time, the ferry lost control and went over the Nazirganj floating fish farm. As a result, 40 floating fish farm cages, including several boats, were submerged in the river. At that time, fish worth about 2.6 million taka in the cages were released into the river. In this incident, about 3.8 million taka of damage was caused, including nets, drums and boats, according to fish farmers and locals," the correspondent detailed.

Local witnesses allege that the ferry driver attempted to reach the pier without properly anchoring the vessel during the storm, leading to the loss of control and the subsequent collision with fishermen's boats and the adjacent floating fish farm.

"Locals claim that the ferry driver tried to reach the pier without mooring the ferry during the storm. As a result, he lost control and climbed onto the fishermen's boat and later onto the floating farm next to it, causing the damage," the report stated.

Zahiruddin Biswas, one of the affected fish farmers, recounted their journey of establishing the farm through loans from various NGOs, growing from a single cage to 40 through hard work. He lamented the loss of their investment, including the fish worth Tk 2.6 million and the infrastructure valued at Tk 3.8 million. Biswas highlighted their vulnerability as unemployed individuals who ventured into fish farming after receiving training from Youth Development, taking on significant loans from Grameen Bank, Bureau Bangladesh, and private organizations. With only a few cages currently containing fish, he expressed deep concern about their ability to repay these loans and urgently demanded immediate compensation.

"In this regard, fish farmer Zahiruddin Biswas said, 'We started fish farming on this floating farm by taking loans from various NGOs... Today's accident is the latest... How will I pay this money? The port officers came and told me to apply. What will they do after that?' He said that there is no way to pay this loan if I do not get compensation at this time and demanded all the compensation immediately," Biswas pleaded.

Following the accident, local residents reportedly halted the ferry. Naval police and port officials later visited the scene, and after reassuring the victims, the ferry was allowed to leave.

"Meanwhile, the ferry lost control and crashed into a floating fish farm and fishermen's boats, causing extensive damage. Locals stopped the ferry. Later, after the naval police and port officials visited the scene and reassured the victims, the ferry was rescued," the report noted.

Tofazzal Hossain Patwari, the assistant director of the Nazirganj River Port in Sujanagar Upazila of Pabna, confirmed that authorities have inspected the site. He assured that an investigation will be conducted based on the victims' application to assess the damages and take measures for compensation.

"In this regard, Tofazzal Hossain Patwari, assistant director of Nazirganj River Port in Sujanagar Upazila of Pabna, said, 'We have inspected the scene. In view of the application of the victims, an investigation will be conducted and measures will be taken to assess the damage and compensate for it,'" Patwari stated.

END/SRP/RH/