SIRAJGANJ, Mar 2: The Enayetpur-Chouhali naval route has remained closed for navigability crisis.
Thousands of people go to Chouhali Upazila headquarters regularly by boat from Enayetpur Haat under Sodia Chandpur Union in the upazila. Besides, various goods are carried through this ghat.
But, due to recession of water in the Jamuna River, numerous chars have emerged on the riverbed. As a result, the Enayetpur-Chouhali route has been closed. Following this, about 50,000 people including passengers and boatmen have been facing trouble. The people are using Bangabandhu Bridge or Bera Upazila of Pabna District to go to and return from their destinations spending extra money and time.
Local boat owners tried to dig a narrow channel through the char but later gave up the work for fund crisis. The local people demanded immediate digging of the channel.
Local people informed, the navigability suffers during dry season every year. But this year the water in the Jamuna River has reduced before one month and a half than the usual time, giving rise to numerous chars. Though local people tried to keep the navigability on, the route has now totally closed.
Boatmen of Enayetpur Alim and Abul Hossen said the water in Jamuna started to recede from last November. Now, the depth of water has reached at lowest level. As a result, numerous chars have emerged on 2.5-kilometre area from Khasijarapara to Ranjanpur under Chandpur Union.
Some boat passengers Awal, Robi Hossen and Ismail Master said, due to constant recession of water in Jamuna, many chars have emerged on the riverbed, hampering navigability. As a result, the char dwellers have to walk miles after miles. The goods-laden big vessels have to cross huge distant to go to different places.
Chairman of Sodia Chandpur Union Rashedul Islam Siraj said it takes about an hour to go to Chouhali Upazila headquarters from Enayetpur by boat during rainy season, but in dry season it takes about three hours, which requires extra money.
Lessee of Enayetpur Ghat Yusuf Ali Bepary said though the local boat owners dug a 2.5 km long channel with Bangla dredger, it has been closed for lack of fund.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abu Taher said the matter was informed to deputy commissioner and local lawmaker.
In this connection, lawmaker Abdul Momin Mandal said after talking with the concerned authority, steps will be taken to restart the
channel.
