Due to a low-navigability in the river Jamuna near Bera upazila, cargo ships laden with various goods including fuel are failing to reach to Nagarbari, Bagha and Baghabari river ports. As a result, various goods of cargoes stranded in submerged chars are being carried to the ports through Mini cargoes and trawlers.
On last Sunday and Monday (January-10, 11), 15 to 20 cargoes and oil-tankers were seen to remain stranded in the sub-merged chars of the river while goods are being delivered through mini-cargo ships, lighter oil tankers and boats from more than one hundred cargo ships anchored in deep water of the river.
The navigability crisis took to a serious turn mainly at the middle of Kazirhat Ghat to Mollarchar of Bera upazila in the east and towards one kilometre west to south-east of Kazirhat.
Meanwhile, the authorities of BIWTA were continously dredging the channels of the river from Aricha of Manikganj to Kazirhat of Bera of Pabna through three dredgers to ensure navigability of the river. Due to navigability crisis, the launches ply at a very slow speed through the river.
Due to navigability crisis, river channels at Aricha-Kazirhat, Nagarbari, Bera-Baghabari routes have been squeezed and narrowed down. Several cargo ships and fuel-tankers named MT South Brand, OT Bengal Spirit-1, OT Jolshikar, MV Jewel, OT Asia Begum, MV Sumiya Hossain, MV Faisal-4, MV-Ibrahim Khalil-1, Jewel-1, Al-Tayef, MV Afifa, MV Warish Ahnaf, Asia Paribahan,
OT Ocean were seen to anchor at Mollarchar of Bera and goods from those vessels were carried through small cargo ship, boats and trawlers. Moreover, at least 25-ships carrying fuel, chemical fertiliser, cozl, what and rice remained stranded in sub-merged chars of Jamuna river.
Local people informed, the sub-merged chars were created for the accumulation of sand due to water current. River port sources of Nagarbari, Bera and Baghabari informed, riverine routes are an important, sensitive, national medium to carry fuel, fertiliser and other materials to 16-districts of of the Northern region of the country. Nearly 90 percent fuel and chemical fertiliers required for the northern-region are transported through Baghabarighat while required cement, coal, stone, wheat and rice are transported through Bera and Nagarbari ports.
At the same time, rice, wheat, jute and other goods from the northern region are also transported to Dhaka and southern and eastern districts of the country through Bera and Nagarbari river ports. Nearly 90 percent of fertiliser at 14-butter godowns of the northern region are transported through Baghabari port.
It is learnt, due to navigability crisis of Jamuna, the works of emergency storage of fertiliser at the buffer godowns are being hampered a bit.
A source of BIWTA, Aricha informed, movement of cargoes carrying fertiliser and goods requires 10 to 11 feet deep of water but the depth of the routes of the moving cargoes is now 8 to 9 feet in some places.
The are worried, the depth in some channel may decrease further and the water level may drop to 7 to 8 feet. They further mentioned, severe navigabilty crisis is being notices at least in 12-channel channel points including of Mohanganj, Harirampur, Charsafullah, Nakalia, Pechakola, Raksa, Nagarbari, Kazirhat, Bagutarchar, Mollarchar from Baghabari to Aricha Doulatdiaghats. Goods laden cargoes are being stranded in the sub-merged chars of the routes.
BIWTA Aricha office sources informed, four dredgers were continually dredging the Baghabari river channel to keep it operational. Illegal excavation of sand from various places of the river is also a major cause of forming of the sub-merged chars, sources added.