Fertiliser, Fuel Supply To Northern Districts
Crisis looms as Jamuna navigability falls
Six vessels stuck up on river
Sacks of fertiliser, piled up at Baghabari river port, awaiting despatch to different northern districts.Photo: STAR
Transportation of fertiliser and fuel to Baghabari river port is being hampered due to poor navigability of Jamuna. Water level of Jamuna and its tributaries has fallen drastically with the beginning of winter while dredging of the main river channel to Baghabari is too inadequate to keep it navigable for big oil tankers and vessels, sources said. Baghabari port sources said, large cargo vessels and barges carrying fertilisers and fuel can not reach Baghabari port due to underwater shoals at many points in the Jamuna channel. Six large vessels and barges are now stuck up at different points including Nakalia, Berakhola, Latifpur and Mohonganj in Jamuna for last two days. The fertilisers are being unloaded by small boats, taken to Baghabari port and then transported to different destinations by trucks and other vehicles, said Mostafizur Rahman, Assistant Director of the river port. This increases transportation cost, he said. Fertiliser and supply to different northern districts is being hampered due to this problem, he added. Fuel supply to northern districts are still steady but may be hampered if those can not be replenished in time, sources at fuel depots said. There are depots of Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies in Baghabari. During a visit, this correspondent found that fertiliser sacks from large vessels at Latifpur were being unloaded into small boats. These were stacked on the riverbank for dispatch to different destinations. Taking the advantage, truckers are also realising more fare. Sources in Bangladesh Inland Water transport Authority (BIWTA) said at least 11-12 feet water is needed for big vessels and barges to ply but it is up to 9 feet in the Jamuna channel. Rabiul Alam, superintendent of Jamuna oil depot at Baghabari ghat, said small barges with light load can still reach Baghabari but the port is off-limits to big barges. He apprehended that there could be short supply of fuel and fertiliser in northern districts soon if the river channel is not dredged properly to allow big barges and vessels to touch it. Authorities at Baghabari port and fuel depot said they urged Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority BIWTA for dredging the route earlier. But, they started late and doing the work slowly, the officials said. When contacted, a BIWTA official admitted navigation problem, but refuted the allegation of late start in dredging and slow operation. “We are doing out best with limited resources. The channel is being dredged at Mohonganj point now with one dredger”, he said. Another dredger may be available in 4-5 days, he said.
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