Collapsed jetty at Dashmina makes launch travel a daily ordeal 

DASHMINA, PATUAKHALI, Sept 29: Passengers using the busiest launch terminal at Hajirhat in Dashmina Upazila have been suffering for a long time as the jetty connecting the terminal to the river has remained disconnected.

The jetty has not been repaired or rebuilt for a long time, forcing more than 1,000 passengers to risk their safety while boarding and getting off launches every day.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found the entire connecting jetty had collapsed and sunk into the river, leaving the terminal effectively disconnected from the jetty. As a result, launches cannot berth at the terminal.

Instead, launches are being anchored at an unsafe spot along the southern side of the ghat. Passengers have to cross mud and water to board and disembark.

The situation becomes worse during low tide as the water recedes and the distance between the shore and launches increases. Women, children, elderly people and sick passengers suffer the most.

Many passengers have to remove their shoes and carry them while walking through the mud and water. Some lift their clothes to avoid getting them dirty, leaving both men and women in uncomfortable situations.

The Hajirhat launch terminal is a major river transport hub in the upazila. More than 1,000 people use the ghat every day to travel to Dhaka, Barishal, Chandpur, Chattogram, Bhola, Char Fasson, Monpura and riverine char areas of Dashmina.

Many people depend on the ghat for transporting business and agricultural goods as well as travelling for education, work and other purposes.

Kalamb Akon, a passenger travelling to Dhaka, told The Daily Observer that boarding and getting off launches had become extremely difficult because of the damaged jetty.

"The situation is particularly risky at night and in the early morning. A new jetty should be built quickly to ensure safe travel," he said.

Riaz Hossain, who was travelling to Char Fasson in Bhola, said passengers often lost their balance while using the narrow wooden staircase to board launches.

"The problem becomes worse when passengers are carrying luggage. A new jetty is urgently needed to reduce their suffering," he said.

Monir Hossain, driver of MV Pubali-6, said extra caution was needed when passengers boarded or got off launches away from the terminal.

"The jetty needs to be rebuilt quickly in the interest of safe river travel," he said.

Ghat lessee Saowfat Hossain Shaon said passengers were suffering every day because the jetty had collapsed and sunk.

"The ghat remains busy with passengers and cargo transport because it is an important river terminal. We have informed the relevant authorities about the problem," he said.

BIWTA Patuakhali Assistant Director Md Zaki Shahriar told The Daily Observer that river erosion was likely responsible for the damage.

"The area is prone to river erosion and erosion has recently intensified there. The soil beneath the jetty has probably shifted. There is also no proper bank protection, which weakened the jetty and caused it to collapse," he said.

He said the matter had been reported to the engineering section of BIWTA.

"Building a new jetty cannot be done in a short time as it involves the tendering process. Moreover, without sustainable riverbank protection, a new jetty would not last long and could be damaged again," he said.

He added that BIWTA was planning to temporarily shift the pontoon to an open space on the southern side of the ghat.

Several attempts to contact BIWTA Barishal Divisional Executive Engineer Md Amzad Hossain by phone for comments went unanswered.