Sandwip (Chittagong)  Correspondent

Various social and political organizations have formed a huge human chain, protest rally and submitted memorandums to the concerned ministries and corporations at the Sandwip Upazila Parishad gate against the conspiracy to stop the ferry service of Sandwip residents at 11 am  on Tuesday. 

People from different classes and professions spontaneously participated in the human chain program and protest rally organized by the people of Sandwip. 

In addition, various organizations have declared solidarity with the program with their own banners. Everyone has one demand: this service cannot be stopped at all for any reason except adverse weather. They have also called for the launch of C-Trucks along with the ferry service. The speakers said that a huge syndicate has done big business by capitalizing on the transportation system of Sandwip in the past.  That is why they never wanted a smooth and safe transportation system to be ensured in Sandwip. That is why they have become active again within a month of the start of the ferry service. They also said that the people of Sandwip will call for a strong movement if necessary to stop this conspiracy.

It is worth mentioning that the people of Sandwip, an isolated island upazila of Chittagong, had to travel on the Sandwip-Chittagong river route at the risk of their lives. Even in the modern era, the poor condition of the hundred-year-old transportation, treading in muddy water and mud, was shameful for the people of Chittagong, said Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government. He made such comments while giving a virtual speech at the inauguration of the ferry service on March 24. On that day, M. Sakhawat Hossain, advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labor and Employment, along with five advisors, inaugurated the ferry service in Sandwip.  However, as the hero of this ferry service, all the people of Sandwip claim to be indebted to the electricity, fuel and railway advisor of Sandwip, Fauzul Kabir Khan, for life.

It is also worth mentioning that about 4 lakh people live in Sandwip, an isolated island upazila of Chittagong. The residents of this township have to risk their lives to travel to and from the district city of Chittagong by crossing the turbulent sea for daily work, livelihood, education, and urgent needs such as medical treatment. There is a turbulent waterway channel between the Chittagong coast and Sandwip, the length of this waterway is about 14 kilometers. Children, women and elderly passengers constantly face indescribable suffering while crossing this route. Many lives have been lost on this route repeatedly due to unsafe transportation systems.

Last 2/3 days ago, BIWTA Deputy Director Md.  Kamruzzaman, citing the upcoming monsoon and rough seas as reasons for the closure of the ferry and the pontoons on both sides of the ferry pier, and the fact that they are very expensive and may be damaged due to adverse weather conditions, angered 500,000 Sandwip residents living abroad.

Chittagong North District Jamaat Ameer Alauddin Sikder, Upazila BNP Member Secretary Alamgir Hossain Thakur, Upazila BNP Joint Convener Azmat Ali Bahadur, Monir Talukder, Kashem Master, Jamaat leader Maulana Abu Taher, Advocate Nizam Uddin, Municipal BNP Joint Conveners Md. Mahbubul Alam Shimul, Nazim Uddin, and Md. Main Uddin spoke at the human chain and protest rally.  Upazila BNP leader Joynal Abedin Baker, Yubadal leader Shawkat Talukder and leaders of various social and political parties were present.

 The meeting was presided over by Jubo Dal leader Nijhum Khan. The meeting was moderated by journalist Mozammel Hossain.