Setback in BIWTC service on Dhaka-Khulna route
Most steamers decrepit ahead of Eid
Rocket steamer service of Bangladesh Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on Dhaka-Khulna route has become irregular as vessels often go out of order on the way while a few are docked for repair.
MV Sela, the screw type vessel of BIWTC, went out of order on Sunday night at Bhasanchar one hour after leaving Barisal port on its way to Dhaka, BIWTC sources said.
As the shaft with propellers of the vessel failed to operate, more than five hundred passengers on board had to be evacuated by other launches plying the route.
Sela was taken to dock for repair yesterday and now there is little hope to get it back for smooth service before the Eid.
Paddle steamer PS Mahsud that joined the service on August 1 this year after four months on dock for repair was again withdrawn from service the same day after it went out of order twice and caused accident during its trip.
It is uncertain when this vessel may join the rocket service fleet before the Eid.
PS Lepcha, PS Turn and PS Ostrich ply the route but the first two vessels may be docked at any time as they are in very bad conditions, BIWTC sources said.
While smooth running of regular services and their timely arrival to destinations has become uncertain, arrangement of special trips during the Eid vacation has become all the more difficult, Khalid Newaz, manger of BIWTC Barisal station, said.
Sonargaon, a ferryboat of the railway department, which is usually hired by BIWTC for special service on Dhaka-Khulna route ahead of Eid, is now on a dockyard for repair while the corporation is yet to collect any vessel for special trips on the occasion, he said.
It has become very hard for BIWTC to maintain regular timetable of daily services on Dhaka-Chandpur-Barisal-Jhalakathi-Pirojpur-Mongla-Khulna route, the longest river transportation route of the country, said a high official.
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