Stopping dredging at Alubazar by locals

Ferry route on verge of closure

The communication between Dhaka and Khulna through the Harinaghat–Alubazar ferry route is going to be shut down, as locals have prevented the dredging work at the Alubazar point on the Meghna river in Chandpur district. Huge silt deposition caused by floodwaters has drastically reduced the river’s depth near the Alubazar point by five to six feet, according to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). As part of the maintenance dredging programme, the BIWTA deployed a dredger on August 10 to dredge the ferry channel, but the local people of Ibrahimpur union parishad prevented the work, fearing erosion, BIWTA officials alleged.

Apparently, Md Kashem, Ibrahimpur UP chairman, led the local people to stop the dredging work. They even tried to beat up the BIWTA staff and warned them against dredging the channel, it is alleged.

If the ferry route is closed, trade among Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Shariatpur, Khulna and other areas will be seriously hampered.

The BIWTA had sent a letter, signed by its chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq, to the shipping ministry on September 6 for taking immediate action and sought the shipping minister's intervention in this regard.

According to the BIWTA letter, if the channel is not dredged, it would cease to remain operational. As a result, the entire communication between Chittagong and south-western

regions will soon come to a halt.

Considering the consequences, it was necessary to urgently resolve the problem, the letter had stated.

“The width of the channel, along with its, depth has declined at the Alubazar point. The authorities concerned are now operating ferries during full tide,” Saidur Rahman, superintendent engineer of the BIWTA, told The Independent yesterday.

The depth of the channel would increase to 10–12 feet through dredging, he said, adding that the width of the channel will also increase.

“If it is not done at this moment, there will be a negative impact on the transport sector between Chittagong and the southwestern region through the Harinaghat-Alubazar ferry route,” Rahman said in reply to a query. Shipping ministry sources said that they are trying to resolve the problem within the shortest possible time. When contacted, Ibrahimpur UP chairman Md Kashem claimed that he only tried to save the BIWTA officials from the wrath of the locals.

“I didn’t go to beat up the BIWTA officials. Rather, I tried to save them. Many areas, including Ibrahimpur and Gourkhoddi, have suffered erosion due to dredging by the BIWTA,” Kashem, who is also the Ibrahimpur UP Awami League unit president, claimed. He, however, said they want to keep the ferry route operational even when saving the region from erosion. Efforts are on to convince the local people about the necessity of the ferry route, he added.

Stopping dredging at Alubazar by locals

Ferry route on verge of closure

The communication between Dhaka and Khulna through the HarinaghatAlubazar ferry route is going to be shut down, as locals have prevented the dredging work at the Alubazar point on the Meghna river in Chandpur district. Huge silt deposition caused by floodwaters has drastically reduced the rivers depth near the Alubazar point by five to six feet, according to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). As part of the maintenance dredging programme, the BIWTA deployed a dredger on August 10 to dredge the ferry channel, but the local people of Ibrahimpur union parishad prevented the work, fearing erosion, BIWTA officials alleged. Apparently, Md Kashem, Ibrahimpur UP chairman, led the local people to stop the dredging work. They even tried to beat up the BIWTA staff and warned them against dredging the channel, it is alleged. If the ferry route is closed, trade among Chittagong, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Shariatpur, Khulna and other areas will be seriously hampered. The BIWTA had sent a letter, signed by its chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq, to the shipping ministry on September 6 for taking immediate action and sought the shipping ministers intervention in this regard. According to the BIWTA letter, if the channel is not dredged, it would cease to remain operational. As a result, the entire communication between Chittagong and south-western regions will soon come to a halt. Considering the consequences, it was necessary to urgently resolve the problem, the letter had stated. The width of the channel, along with its, depth has declined at the Alubazar point. The authorities concerned are now operating ferries during full tide, Saidur Rahman, superintendent engineer of the BIWTA, told The Independent yesterday. The depth of the channel would increase to 1012 feet through dredging, he said, adding that the width of the channel will also increase. If it is not done at this moment, there will be a negative impact on the transport sector between Chittagong and the southwestern region through the Harinaghat-Alubazar ferry route, Rahman said in reply to a query. Shipping ministry sources said that they are trying to resolve the problem within the shortest possible time. When contacted, Ibrahimpur UP chairman Md Kashem claimed that he only tried to save the BIWTA officials from the wrath of the locals. I didnt go to beat up the BIWTA officials. Rather, I tried to save them. Many areas, including Ibrahimpur and Gourkhoddi, have suffered erosion due to dredging by the BIWTA, Kashem, who is also the Ibrahimpur UP Awami League unit president, claimed. He, however, said they want to keep the ferry route operational even when saving the region from erosion. Efforts are on to convince the local people about the necessity of the ferry route, he added.