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50 Trucks Stranded as Ferry Services Suspended
on Rowmari-Chilmari route
Ferry services on the Rowmari-Chilmari route have been suspended due to a severe navigability crisis on the Brahmaputra River in Kurigram, leaving around 50 trucks stranded on both sides of the river. The disruption, which began on Friday, has caused significant delays for cargo-laden vehicles and is affecting people from various professions.
The crisis stems from a drop in the river's water levels, which has made ferry operations increasingly difficult over the past 10 days. Despite efforts to maintain service, the ferries have been unable to operate since Friday. Currently, the water depth in several parts of the Brahmaputra is only 6 feet, far below the 7 feet required for safe ferry passage.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has assured the public that dredging operations are underway to address the problem. "For the past 10 days, we have been facing navigability issues due to the reduced water level," said Proful Chouhan, the Manager (Commercial) of Chilmari Ferry Service. "Since Friday, ferry services have been temporarily suspended, but dredging is actively being carried out on both sides of the river. We hope to restore normal services soon."
Chouhan added that if the water depth reaches at least 7 feet following the ongoing dredging work, ferry operations will resume as usual. However, locals remain frustrated with the pace of the dredging efforts.
Mohammad Nur Islam, a local resident, expressed concern over the slow progress. "If the dredging work was being done properly and consistently, we wouldn't be facing this issue," he said. "The government is investing in dredging, but the work is only done for two to three hours a day. At this rate, how can we expect a timely solution?"
Truck drivers are also bearing the brunt of the disruption. Saidul Islam, a truck driver who regularly travels via the Rowmari terminal to Jamalpur, was left stranded with his truck full of stones. "I arrived last night only to find out the ferry service had been stopped. I don't know when I’ll be able to cross. This is causing me a lot of problems," he said.
As the situation continues, both local residents and truck drivers are eagerly awaiting the restoration of ferry services, with hopes that the dredging efforts will soon allow the river to return to a navigable depth.