CHILMARI, KURIGRAM, Jan 29: The Chilmari-Rowmari route of the Brahmaputra River in Chilmari Upazila of the district has been facing ferry service suspension for the last three weeks.
The ferry service on the route has been suspended as an old box culvert bridge of a road from Rowmaru Ghat to Rowmari Bazar has turned risky. This ferry service was suspended by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on January 10.
At present, the culvert in Kutiarchar area in Rowmari Upazila starts to swing when goods-laden vehicles get on it. Locals said, the culvert is likely to collapse, causing a big accident.
BIWTC officials said, if the ferry service suspension continues for a long time, the dredged channels of the river may be filled up.
BIWTC operates two ferries on the route. At present, navigability crisis is prevailing in the river.
The risky culvert at the Kutiar Char is two kilometre away from Rowmari Ghat. The culvert repairing has been going on for three weeks without alternate road.
This road is used daily by 40-50 goods-laden vehicles, bound to Dhaka and different areas of the country.
BITWC operates ferry service by regularly dredging the channels. Two ferry boats, Ferry Kunjala and Ferry Kadam, would run daily under the BIWTC.
A visit on Thursday morning found several goods-laden vehicles waiting on road at Chilmari Ghat for ferry. Alam Mia, Rabiul Islam, and Anisur Rahman said, many trucks went back due to the suspended ferry service.
Master Officer of Ferry Kunjala Rejaul Karim said, as the Kutir Char bridge is likely to collapse any time; the ferry service has been suspended recently. On January 10 Ferry Kunjala didn return to Chilmari from Rowmari, he added.
BIWTC Manager Prafulla Chouhan said, "We are contacting with LGED. The ferry service will be restarted after repairing the bridge."
