Chilmari ferry service in limbo, passengers suffer 

CHILMARI, KURIGRAM, Nov 7: Ferry services on the Chilmari-Roumari river route have remained suspended since August 14, with the vessels and staff deployed at other terminals, leaving the future of the service uncertain and passengers facing increased hardship.

The ferries have been removed from the terminal, officials and employees involved in their operation have been transferred or attached to other stations, and activities at the temporary office have also been suspended.

The situation has raised concerns among locals, particularly as work on the Tk 345.02 crore Chilmari River Port development project is underway.

The ferry service on the route was launched on September 20, 2023. It was suspended and resumed several times before being halted again on August 14 this year due to navigability problems, local sources said.

Although dredging initiatives were taken earlier to improve navigability, the service has yet to resume, raising questions about its future.

According to sources, ferry Kunjalata was first removed from the terminal, followed by ferry Kadam, reportedly for repairs at a dockyard. However, Kunjalata is now deployed at Chandpur terminal and Kadam at Bhola terminal, the sources said.

Conflicting accounts from the authorities about the deployment of the two ferries have created confusion over whether they were taken away for repairs or assigned to other terminals.

Around 48 officials and employees were previously involved in commercial, marine, accounts, engineering and ferry operations at Chilmari terminal.

Some of them have been transferred or attached to other stations, including Dhaowapara River Port, Dhaka-Kashipur and Aricha terminal. The temporary office near Chilmari College intersection has also reportedly been vacated.

Former Assistant Manager of Chilmari River Port Akib Sohel Akash said the officials and employees had been attached to other ferry terminals across the country.

"They will be assigned to Chilmari again if ferry services resume," he said.

However, no specific timeframe has been announced for resuming the service or bringing back the two ferries.

The ferry route is important for passengers and goods-carrying vehicles travelling between Chilmari and Roumari. Its suspension has forced people to use alternative routes, increasing travel time and transportation costs.

Truck driver Sadekur Rahman said they had to take longer routes because of the suspension.

"It takes more time and increases fuel costs. We also face difficulties delivering goods on time. Resuming the ferry service quickly would reduce our hardship," he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker from Kurigram-4 Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Mostak said the Chilmari-Roumari route was highly important, yet efforts were being made to withdraw ferry services from the terminal.

"Ferry services are operating at many less important terminals, while this important route remains neglected. I have contacted the relevant authorities to restore normal operations and submitted a notice in parliament. I will raise the issue at the next parliamentary session," he said.