30km detour causing longer travel time
Travelling on the river route between the southern region and Dhaka or Chandpur is becoming time consuming and costlier as poor navigability at Miar Char channel in Mehendiganj upazila of Barisal is forcing river vessels to take a 30-kilometre detour.
As a diverted route, the vessels are now using the Kaliganga channel after Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) imposed a restriction on using the Miar Char channel from August 6.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice president of Bangladesh Launch Owners' Association, said the extended route is causing the vessels to consume more fuel and take a longer time to reach a destination.
“For the sake of passenger safety ahead of the upcoming Eid festival, we have no other option but to bear the extra cost,” he added.
Kalam, a crew member of Sundarban-7, said the situation will bring down the usual number of trips they make during Eid holidays.
Ajmal Huda Mithu, deputy director of marine safety and traffic management at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, said they imposed the restriction on the Miar Char channel after two cargo vessels, known as bulkheads, capsized there in the last one year.
Dredging the channel to improve its navigably would not be sustainable as it is prone to heavy siltation and mud deposits, he added.
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