Trackback URL
Download PDF Thirty-seven large vessels and barges loaded with fertiliser, fuel and rice have remained stuck at different points in the Jamuna for the last three days because of poor navigability, hampering supply of the essentials to different destinations though the Baghabari port.
This has left sufficient supply of fertiliser and fuel uncertain at the beginning of rabi cultivation.
The vessels have remained stuck at different points, including Nakalia, Berakhola, Kazirhat, Pechakhola, Latifpur and Notakhola, as water levels in the Jamuna and its tributaries have fallen drastically.
Baghabari port sources said the movement of vessels between Nagarbari and Baghabari has become difficult because of poor navigability caused by hundreds of underwater shoals.
The vessels are carrying around 17,000 tonnes of fertiliser, they said, adding that a few traders started unloading fertiliser from a few vessels and bringing to the port by small boats at additional transportation cost.
Shafiqul Islam, director of Baghabari port, said this extra cost is forcing traders to change transportation routes for their goods, which is ultimately paralysing the port gradually.
It costs additional sums of Tk 60,000-70,000 for carrying goods from mid-river to the port.
Bahar Uddin, master of MV Heart, said his vessel carrying 1,500 tonnes of rice was stuck at Latifpur two weeks ago. The rice is now being unloaded and taken to the port by small boats and this is costing an additional Tk 60,000.
To avoid this additional cost, most traders are now showing interest in transporting goods through highway routes.
Lack of dredging for the river routes, irregularities and mismanagement of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) are the main reasons behind the navigation problem, Shafiqul Islam said.
Sources at the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil depots said barges with lighter loads of fuel can still reach Baghabari port, but this too will become impossible at any time if the channel is not dredged immediately.
When contacted, a BIWTA official seeking anonymity told The Daily Star, “Our resources are limited. The dredging work is going on but to no effect as tides bring in sand and silt up the channel again.”
A dredger is now busy at Pechakhola in Pabna dredging the channel. But, one dredger is not enough to remove the silt from the channel, said the official.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
[...] Bangladesh News added an interesting post on 37 vessels with fuel, rice, fertiliser stuck in Jamuna [...]