Activities at Baghabari river port badly hampered

The countrywide non-stop blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance adds to poor functioning of Baghabari river port, already affected by decreased navigability of the Jamuna River in the ongoing dry season.

Only 38 vessels were unloaded at the river port till the first week of March this year while over 100 vessels were unloaded there during the time last year, said Md Abdus Salam, lease holder of Baghabari port.

"Most of over 2,000 workers here fail to get regular work as port activities has decreased during the last couple of weeks," said Md Monsur Ali, a port worker.

"The situation has arisen as only a poor number of vessels can come to the port due to navigability problem while the non-stop blockade and frequent hartals hamper arrival of goods carrying trucks here," said Al Mahamud, a leader of port workers' association.

"Movement of vessels is disturbed due to the fall of water level in the Jamuna. At least 50-kilometre river route from Aricha to Baghabari is badly affected with navigability problem as big shoals have emerged at Mollar Char, Kalyanpur Char, Baterir Char, Rajnarayanpur and Notakhola points of the route," said Md Azmal Huda, port officer of Baghabari.

Md Ariful Hasan Tarek, executive engineer of BIWTA, said a survey is going on to start dredging in the Jamuna to solve the problem.

"As per the government rule, we have cautioned the cargo vessel owners to take up to 6.5 feet draft loads during the dry season as navigability problem grips the area every year. But most of them are carrying 9 to 10 feet draft loads, causing problem during movement in shallow portions of the river," he added.

Movement of trucks to the port is also badly disturbed due to blockade and hartals.

"Around 100 to 150 trucks usually carry goods from the port in the normal time daily but now only 50 to 80 trucks loaded with goods from the port move to other districts every day due to the ongoing political turmoil," said Azmal Huda, the port officer.