BIWTC resumes ferry service in 2 southern routes
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) yesterday temporarily resumed ferry services on Bhola-Lakshmipur route on River Meghna, linking road communications between Chittagong and 21 south-western districts, which had remained suspended since September 8.
After trial trips by ferry Ketoki on Friday and Saturday, authorities decided to resume the temporary service from today through Bongerchar and Ramdaspur channels.
BIWTC sources said ferries Kishori and Kamini were removed from the route to Mawa within four days after the first experimental trip to resume navigation by opening a new channel had failed on September 13.
However, the regular ferry service may not resume before dredging the old channel, officials of the BIWTC and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority told reporters.
A survey team on September 12 recommended newly found Razapur NB channel for navigation but an experimental trip through the channel on September 13 failed due to strong whirling current of the downstream, BIWTA sources said.
There is no alternative to increasing the depth of old Bongerchar channel before navigation, Md Faruk, a BIWTC ferry master, said.
Nurul Islam Bhuiyan, commercial manager of the BIWTC, said navigation through the Bhola-Lakshmipur route involved risks because of strong whirling current in Razapur NB channel and less navigability in Bongerchar and Ramdaspur channels.
Mesbahul Islam, deputy commissioner of Bhola, said temporary resumption of the ferry service was done to tackle Eid rush of passengers.
Operation of ML type water transports which are less than 65 feet in length resumed in 55 routes in Barisal region yesterday as weather condition improved, BIWTA officials said.
The routes included 28 inner routes of Barisal, 13 in Barguna and 14 in Bhola. Five coastal routes of Barisal, Bhola, Lakshmipur and Chittagong were suspended due to bad weather condition since Friday last.
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