Dhaka-Bhola journey takes just 4.5–5 hours; ferry also carries private cars, trucks
A ferry service connecting Purbachal’s Shimulia tourist terminal with Ilisha in Bhola is offering passengers a faster and more convenient alternative to road travel, with the journey taking around four and a half to five hours.
The Carnival Cruise, which began operations on March 19 this year, carries both passengers and vehicles. Its launch has also helped ease pressure on Sadarghat, while the terminal’s location near the 300 Feet Road has made it more accessible to passengers travelling from Dhaka and surrounding areas.
A visit to Shimulia terminal found several vehicles waiting to board the ferry, while passengers were busy buying tickets and arranging their luggage. Soon after, the ferry sounded its horn and left for Ilisha in Bhola.
Operating under the slogan “Go home, take your car with you”, the ferry can carry around 25–40 private cars or 12–15 large trucks at a time. It offers deck seating, chair seats, air-conditioned business-class seats, VIP cabins and family cabins.
The ferry leaves Shimulia at 8:00am every day and reaches Ilisha at around 3:00pm. It departs Ilisha at 7:00pm for Dhaka and reaches Shimulia at around 4:00am the following day.
The deck fare is Tk 300 per passenger, while an air-conditioned seat costs Tk 500. Family cabins are available for Tk 2,000, while VIP cabins cost Tk 3,500.
According to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) sources, vehicle fares on the route include Tk 25,000 for a 10-wheel vehicle, Tk 16,000 for trucks weighing 8–11 tonnes, Tk 14,600 for trucks weighing 5–8 tonnes, Tk 12,000 for trucks weighing 3–5 tonnes, Tk 9,000 for microbuses, Tk 7,000 for one-tonne microbuses and Tk 1,000 for motorcycles.
Passenger numbers are generally moderate on weekdays but increase significantly on Fridays and Saturdays.
To facilitate passengers’ access to the terminal, MK Shipping Transport operates a shuttle bus service between Kuril Bishwa Road and Shimulia ferry terminal. Passengers arriving from Ilisha are taken from Shimulia to Kuril Bishwa Road, while passengers travelling to Bhola are picked up from Kuril at 7:00am and taken to the terminal.
Passenger Shamim Hossain, who was waiting at the terminal, said the river journey offered a different experience compared with a long road trip.
“Especially for passengers who need to travel to the southern districts with their own vehicles, the facility to transport cars by ferry is important. That is why I chose the Carnival Cruise,” he said.
Another passenger, Shamima Begum, said the new terminal had made travelling to her village home easier.
“We live in Gazipur because of our jobs and often need to travel to our village home. Having a ferry terminal in Purbachal has been very helpful. We no longer have to travel through traffic congestion to Sadarghat,” she said.
Businessman Azim Sarker was travelling to Bhola with his private car on the ferry.
“I am going to my village home in Bhola and taking my own car with me. It is a comfortable journey and saves me from the hassle of road traffic,” he said.
He added that the ferry fare was also economical compared with the fuel cost of travelling by road.
“I would have spent more on fuel if I had travelled by road. The ferry service from this terminal has made our journey much easier,” he said.
Businessman Shaheen Pramanik, who was transporting goods in a covered van, said the service had created new opportunities for both passenger and commercial transport between Dhaka and the southern region.
“Different types of vehicles are being transported alongside passengers. This is creating new possibilities for the movement of goods and private vehicles to the southern region,” he said.
Truck driver Bulbul Hossain also said the service had reduced transportation costs.
“Since the ferry started operating from Shimulia, transporting goods has become much easier. Compared with the fuel cost of travelling by road, using the ferry is relatively cheaper,” he said.
Carnival Cruise driver Mohsin Islam said the ferry normally leaves Shimulia at 8:00am and reaches Bhola around 3:00pm.
“However, the travel time can vary slightly depending on the river current,” he said.
Mir Anwar Hossain, general manager of MK Shipping Transport, said passengers were gradually becoming satisfied with the service.
“We have introduced a shuttle bus service from Kuril Bishwa Road to facilitate passengers travelling to and from the terminal. The service is free for Carnival Cruise passengers,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that passenger numbers had not yet reached a fully satisfactory level.
“We are not yet completely satisfied with the number of passengers, but we hope the situation will improve,” he said.
Swadesh Prasad Mondal, additional chief engineer of BIWTC in Narayanganj, said ferries were operating regularly from Shimulia and Kachpur terminals to Ilisha, carrying both passengers and vehicles.
“I have heard that passengers are travelling safely. However, BIWTC’s commercial department would be able to provide more details in this regard,” he said.