The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday opened the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel for plying water vessels from both sides as an alternate route to Shela river through the Sundarbans. BIWTA has also suspended movement of all water vessels in Shela river through the Sundarbans from Sharankhola (Bogi) to Joimonirgoal (Chadpai) following the capsize of a coal-laden cargo vessel in river Harintana of the Sundarbans under Mongla upazila.
All vessels have been removed from Sharankhola-Bhola and Mongla-Pashur river points in the Sundarbans after the order. “The 12-feet draft vessel owners can use the one-way route of the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel during full tide in daytime. They can also ply their vessels from both sides every alternate day,” BIWTA Chairman Commodore M Mozammel Haque told The Independent yesterday. The Shipping Ministry, in an order, has asked all the vessel owners to use Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel instead of the Shela River until further notice, he added. He said the vessel owners will use the one-way Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel from Mongla end from today (Monday), and from Ghashiakhali end on Tuesday. “Side-towing is totally prohibited due to the narrow width of the channel. A total of 10 dredgers are now working to maintain the channel. Besides, floating pipes and dredging materials are also clogging in the channel. Considering the dredging activities, we are not allowing plying of vessels on both sides at a time,” the BIWTA Chairman said in reply to a query. The Mongla-Ghashiakhali dredging project is near completion, informed Saidur Rahman, Superintendent Engineer of BIWTA, adding, “The channel now contains eight feet of water during ebb time and 16-17 feet during full tide.” The width of the channel has increased to 70-100 metre (200-300 feet) through dredging, he added.