Poor navigability hampers movement of vessels
Navigability problem in Lohalia and Kobai rivers, two key channels of Dhaka-Patuakhali river route, remains a nuisance for operators and passengers.
Vessels often get stuck on shoals, proving futile months-long dredging by the authorities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
River transport is considered the easiest and cheapest means of communication for the people of southern region.
Besides, hundreds of tourists travel on the waterways daily to visit picturesque Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali.
The river route assumed greater significance with a sharp rise in the movement of vessels due to the ongoing development projects including Payra Seaport, a thermal power plant and a cantonment in the region, said BIWTA officials and locals.
On an average, 250 passenger launches and some 800 cargo vessels ply Dhaka-Patuakhali route every week, said Md Jahirul Islam, traffic inspector of BIWTA in Patuakhali.
But the vessels often remain stuck for hours due to navigability problem, said drivers and travellers.
"The launch suddenly got stuck in shallow water when I was operating it towards Patuakhali on January 26. After waiting for hours, we could resume journey at noon when high tide arrived," said Abdul Malek, driver of MV Kuakata.
Milon Hossain, driver of passenger launch Jamal-5, said the authorities concerned have continued dredging the river for several months.
But expected results cannot be achieved and vessels are often stranded in shoals, he said.
The BIWTA started dredging at two points of Lohalia and Kobai rivers on July 6 last year.
As the situation did not improve much, drivers of over a dozen passenger vessels on October 1 submitted application to local BIWTA officials, seeking necessary measures to solve the problem.
Afterwards, BIWTA authorities arranged dredging another point in Sehakathi area of the Lohalia river to maintain navigability on the route, said Khawja Sadikur Rahman, BIWTA's assistant director at Patuakhali river port.
"Some 1.5 lakh cubic metres of sand has already been extracted from the beds of Lohalia and Kobai rivers at the three points. Further excavation, involving the same amount of sand removal, will be needed to restore navigability on the route," said Md Sohel, technical assistant of BIWTA's dredging division.
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