SIRAJGANJ, Feb 23: Navigability crisis for the last one and a half months has left about 70 vessels stranded at five points at Baghabari River Port of the district.
As a result, the business activities are suffering much, and the people concerned are incurring losses.
Sources said like every year, the depth of water at the port has reduced this year with the start of the dry season, barring large vessels from anchoring here. As a result, goods-carrying vessel service on Mollar Char, Baperir Char, Pechakola, Koitola and Mohanganj routes has become quite impossible. The goods from the stranded 70 vessels are being unloaded through lighterage vessels and brought to the port, which has increased the carrying cost.
Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Vessel Transport Federation Abdul Ohab said, "The navigability crisis happens every year. About 10 to 12 goods-laden vessels anchor at this port every day, and about 1,400 labourers maintain their livelihood by working here. From November to March, the depth of water reduces when only six to seven vessels can anchor here. The larger vessels cannot anchor because of navigability crisis."
He further said, "Due to lack of regular dredging, the navigability crisis occurs during each dry season. As a result, the activities at the port are seriously hampered and most of the labourers have to remain workless."
Assistant Port and Transport Officer at Baghabari River Port SM Sazzadur Rahman admitted the navigability crisis and said, "During the rainy season, the depth of water remains at 8 to 9 feet when the larger vessels can be operated easily. But, in dry season, the depth is 4 to 6 feet when the navigability crisis breaks out. In rainy season, vessels with capacity of 8 to 9 thousand metric tons can anchor at the port easily, but in dry season, vessels worth 4 to 5 thousand metric tons can anchor here when goods-carrying activity comes down and the labourers also become workless."
