Ferry service through Mawa to cross the Padma River halted on Tuesday due to river erosion.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority officials hoped that it would be possible to resume operations by noon after completing emergency repair of the number-3 terminal.

Manager of Mawa ferry terminal Sirajul Haq said ferry communication on the Mawa-Kewrakandi route has been put to a halt since 9am Tuesday as a 120-feet ditch suddenly created near the number-3 terminal.

"It has become impossible to use the Ram (the iron plate used in between the pontoon and road) as land eroded from under it in the morning," he said.

Authorities started emergency repair shutting down the terminal 'temporarily', he added.

"We hope to get the number 3 ferry terminal back into service by 1pm," Haq added.

Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan instructed on Monday to introduce three new terminals as ferry communication at the Mawa point was facing danger due to river erosion and strong current.

On Oct 9, the number 2 terminal was closed due to erosion. Just after five days number 1 terminal faced similar fate. Work to prepare the number 4 terminal as alternative was underway, but cracks were seen on it.

Under these circumstances, the BIWTC tried to keep number 3 terminal in service. But vehicle drivers were asked on Sunday night to use Paturia terminal as an alternative to cross the Padma River.

On Monday, only a handful of vehicles crossed the river using the Mawa terminal and the slow crossing resulted in a huge gridlock on both sides.