Poor navigability hits river transportation in Barisal

River transports plying routes to and from Barisal river port are now taking longer journey time as they have to depend on high tides due to decreased navigability around the port.
For last several days, triple deck launches plying Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route are getting lagging behind two to three hours than the scheduled time to leave or reach Barisal port, said vessel owners and operators.
"First-class river vessels plying these river routes need at least 14-foot-deep water flow, second-class small motorised transports need eight-foot-deep water and class-three or manually operated boats need at least five-foot-deep water to ply and anchor smoothly and safely, said Barisal Port Officer Kazi Wakil Newaz, also deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.
But the depth of water around Barisal river port decreases to five-eight feet during low tide, said the port officer and several crew of water transports.
Every year the same problem arises as the port authority fails to conduct regular maintenance dredging and sustainable capital dredging properly, said Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice president of Barisal Launch Owners Association and president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Long-term river management and navigability conservancy steps need to be taken immediately to ensure safe and smooth water transportation during the upcoming Eid ul Azha, he said.
The Barisal port officer attributed decrease of navigability in the region to inadequate water supply from the upstream rivers and consequent sedimentation causing emergence of shoals. The situation worsens during the dry season, he said.
Despite acute shortage of fund and dredgers and dumping grounds of the dredged silts, maintenance dredging started at Barisal River Port point on October 5, the port officer said.
However, vessel operators said dredged silt is again thrown to the river, making little impact in solving navigability problem.