Speedboat stopped on Chittagong-Sandwip route, passengers suffer
Photo Collected
On a sunny morning, the ghat was thronged with pleasant weather. But there was no opportunity for passengers to cross even though it was getting late. Today, Tuesday, without prior announcement, speedboat movement was stopped at Kumira-Guptachara Ghat, the main sea route of Chittagong-Sandwip. Thousands of passengers on both sides suffered due to this.
Passengers said that they waited for a long time at the ghat, but no reason was given for stopping the speedboat. Later, when the tide rises, service boats (wooden trawlers) start plying. Then many passengers were forced to travel by service boat.
বিজ্ঞাপন
It has been learned that on Monday, the Ministry of Shipping issued a notification rescheduling the fare of the Kumira-Guptachara route. Recently, the speedboat fare on this route was Tk 300, but in the new notification, the fare has been set at Tk 260. Since then, the speedboat movement has basically stopped.
Passengers have expressed their anger over the closure of the speedboat. They allege that this is not the first time that speedboats have been shut down without prior notice. Owners often stop speedboats at their own discretion. Recently, during the oil crisis and price increase, speedboats were stopped several times. It needs a permanent solution.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Rafiqul Islam (55), a passenger who came to the ghat today, said, “I came to the ghat for emergency work and saw that the speedboat was not running. Such incidents happen occasionally.
Another passenger, Mainuddin Fahad, said, “When asked why the speedboat is closed, the people at the ghat do not say anything.” Just said, to go to the service boat. But service boat takes four times more time than speedboat. Again, the service boat fare of Tk 130 is being increased to Tk 200.
When asked about the increase in the rent of service boats, Jaglul Hossain said, “The price of oil has increased, so the rent has been increased.”
The Kumira-Guptachara route has been under tension for a long time regarding the determination of fares and the collection of additional fares. On August 22, 2024, officials of the Ministry of Shipping and BIWTA held an exchange meeting at Kumira Ghat. The meeting decided to reduce the rent from 380 taka to 250 taka. After the recent increase in the price of oil, upazila executive officers and local political party representatives and dignitaries held a meeting and fixed the rent at Tk 300. But it was for a temporary period.
Yesterday, the Transport and Administration (TA) wing of the Ministry of Shipping issued a notification revising the fares of 35 smooth and 9 rough sea routes in the country. The fare of Kumira-Guptachara route is fixed at Tk 260. However, the boat owners have claimed that this rent is unreasonable.
Jaglul Hossain said, ‘Noakhali-Hatia route fare is 325 taka, but how can the same distance Kumira-Guptachara fare be 260 taka? We will incur losses on rescheduled fares. We are trying to contact the authorities. If it is not solved, it is not possible to run the speedboat with loss.
When asked, Deputy Director (Port Officer) of BIWTA Nayan Sheel told Prothom Alo, “I am talking to the stakeholders. I hope it will be resolved quickly. Sandwip Upazila Executive Officer Amjad Hossain said that the speedboat should be run at the rent fixed by the government. Apart from this, there is no possibility to take additional rent.
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