Passengers stranded as Hatiya's water links remain suspended

 
NOAKHALI, July 5: Water transport between Hatiya, an island upazila in Noakhali, and the mainland has remained suspended for the past three days due to rough river conditions caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and disrupting normal life on the island.

The suspension has effectively severed Hatiya's water links with Dhaka and other parts of the country, causing significant hardship for commuters, traders and residents who rely on regular ferry and launch services.

Hatiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Russell Iqbal confirmed the matter on Sunday.

According to the upazila administration, the suspension was imposed in compliance with directives from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), which has kept Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 hoisted for the country's coastal areas due to adverse weather conditions.

The administration said all passenger vessels operating on the Hatiya route, including sea-trucks, ferries, speedboats and passenger trawlers, will remain off the river until further notice.

Officials warned that any vessel operating in violation of the directive would be doing so at its own risk.

Local residents said hundreds of passengers gathered at Nolchira Ghat and Chairman Ghat in Hatiya from Sunday morning, hoping services would resume. Many had planned to travel to the mainland for work, medical treatment, business and other urgent purposes.

However, none of the vessels left the terminals as the river remained dangerously rough throughout the day, forcing passengers to wait in uncertainty.

UNO Russell Iqbal said water transport between Hatiya and Dhaka, as well as on internal routes connecting different parts of the island, had been suspended in line with the BMD's safety advisory.

"The Meteorological Department has kept Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 in force for the coastal areas. Considering passenger safety, water transport services have been suspended and will resume only after the warning signal is withdrawn," he said.