Some 700 trucks loaded with goods and commodities - 400 at Daullatdia and 300 at Paturia ghat waited in the long queue at 3:00pm yesterday to cross the river Padma.

BIWTA officials said six, out of 13 ferries, remained out of order.

They could not manage with six ferries when buses carrying passengers are given priority.

A ferry needs around 45 minutes to cross the river and unloading the vehicles.

Besides, service was suspended yesterday for some time as the ghats were required to shift upward due to increase in the water level.

Four ferries are undergoing repair at the dock in Narayanganj and two others at Aricha floating dock. One of the ferries, Shah Amanat, is expected to return from the Narayanganj dockyard Saturday night, officials said.

They said the docks are taking more than required time in repairing the ferries.

Truckers carrying commodities, including the perishables, waiting in the long queue were agitating.

The traffic jam started on Friday morning. By the sundown about 800 vehicles were stranded on both the sides of the ferry ghats.