Poor navigability hits water transport in Barisal region

21 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Rafiqul Islam, Barisal

River transport faces setback, like many other areas in the southern region, in Tetulia River adjoining Patarhat port in Mehendiganj upazila in Barisal district as a number of shoals have emerged there.Photo: STAR

Drastic decrease in navigability due to siltation and emergence of shoals on the river routes has severely hit water transport in Barisal region. Fearing a dim future, a large number of launch owners have given up the trade adding to the sufferings of the passengers. Sources said some 400 launches used to leave Barisal port for 78 regional routes every day a few decades ago but now just 35 water transports ply only eight routes, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources said. There were 24,000 kilometres of waterway network in the country in 1971, but in little more than a decade it reduced to 8,400km in the rainy season and 5,200km during winter in 1984. Today there are only 6,000km waterway network in the rainy season and 3,800km in winter, BIWTA sources said. Some 30 kilometre waterway under 20 river routes in seven upazilas of Barisal region are fast losing navigability due to emergence of numerous shoals and siltation at different points. Bara Machhua launch ghat (terminal) in Mathbaria upazila under Pirojpur, Kasherhut in Muladi upazila and Bhabanipur and Dhamura in Uzirpur upazila under Barisal have been closed down due to poor navigability. A good number of steamers, launches, cargo vessels and oil tankers used to ply these water routes for going to different destinations including Dhaka, Narayanganj, Bhola, Patuakhali, Mongla, Pirojpur, Madaripur, Barguna, Torki, Galachipa, Khepupara and Mehendiganj. Shoals have emerged at different points on the river routes of Kirtonkhola, Arial Khan, Kalabadar, Shikarpur, Hizla, Naya Bhanguni, Sugandhaya and Meghna threatening the movement of water transports. In recent years, all 10 launches of Talukdar Navigation, eight of Mohan Navigation, two of Abdullah Navigation, two of Alam Brothers and five of Chowdhury Navigation have been sold out to scrappers or cargo or fishing traders. Sheikh Abdur Rahim, a leader of Barisal Launch Owners Association, said he is now engaged in readymade garment and sari business after recurring huge loss in water transportation business. Now 13 launches on Barisal-Bhola, eight launches on Barisal-Patarhut, one launch on Barisal Hizla and two launches on each of the Barisal-Kaliganj, Barisal Mojuchowdhurir Hut, Barisal-Char Biswas, Barisal-Lalmohan, Barisal-Barguna routes are plying. Although local BIWTA authorities claim safe navigation on 28 routes in the region, practically passenger services are operating on only eight internal routes amid high financial and operational risks, Khorshed Alam, vice chairman of Barisal Launch Owners Association, said.