Supply Threatened Due to Poor Navigability
40 vessels, barges stuck at Jamuna shoals
Several vessels laden with fertiliser lie anchored on the bank of Jamuna River near Nakalia in Pabna district yesterday as they cannot move further due to drastic fall in water level in the river.Photo: STAR
Around 40 vessels and barges loaded with fertiliser, fuel and rice have remained stuck at shoals in different places of Jamuna River for the last seven days, much to the disturbance of supply of the essential items through Baghabari port. As large vessels and barges cannot reach the port due to poor navigability of the river in the dry season, farmers of the northern region are worried about supply of fertiliser and fuel in the beginning of Boro season. The port authorities have started unloading goods from the stranded vessels and barges with the help of small boats but it takes additional time and cost to transport the goods to different destinations. The vessels and barges got stuck at different points including Nakalia, Berakhola, Kazirhat, Notakhola, Latifpur, Char Saifullah and Pechakola in Pabna district as hundreds of shoals have emerged with receding of water level in Jamuna, said sources at Baghabari river port. They said at least 9 to 13 feet deep water level is needed for smooth movement of vessels and barges while the channel has now only six to seven feet deep water. Talking to this correspondent at different points of the channel, masters (driver) of several vessels and barges including MV Sabuj, MV Kohinoor, MV Mohammad Ali, MV Asad and MV New Sun-2 said failure to dredge the channel in time has led to the navigability problem. The present situation could have been averted if the dredging work had started in time, they said. Hundreds of trucks and labourers are passing idle time in the port area as goods cannot reach the port in time, said Abdul Aziz, labour handling and carrying agent of Baghabari river port. They have to count huge losses due to the situation, he said. Abdur Razzaque, assistant director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) at Baghabari river port, said they have already sent letters informing the higher authorities about the present situation of the channel. "Two dredger machines are now in operation at two points of the channel. But these are not enough for the long channel. More dredgers are needed to keep the channel navigable. Dredging activities are now being hampered due to strong current of the Jamuna," he added. Fertiliser supply to 16 northern districts has now become uncertain due to poor navigability of the Jamuna, said several traders involved in fertiliser transportation. If the present situation continues for a few more days, farmers of the region would face serious fertiliser crisis, they said. When contacted, authorities of Padma, Meghna and Jamuna fuel depots said there is sufficient stock of fuel in their depots but they will have to face difficulties if the present situation continues for more than a week. They urged the authorities to take immediate steps for dredging the route to keep it fit for smooth movement of all kinds of river transport.
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