Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari

Due to the navigability crisis in the Padma, the ferry service is being disrupted in Daulatdia of Rajbari and Paturia of Manikganj.

Due to this, the small and big ferries have to leave the specific channel of the waterway and move about two kilometers downstream. It takes twice as long to cross the ferry than before.

Meanwhile, large ferries have not been able to ply for a month due to reduced water depth near ghat number 7. Dredging is underway as part of the emergency work to remove the navigability. Due to the closure of several pockets of the ghat most of the time, the movement of vehicles on the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway is being disrupted.

According to the BIWTA Aricha office, among the 7 ghats of Daulatdia, ghats 1, 2 and 5 have been closed for several years due to river erosion. Ghat No. 3, 4, 6 and 7 are operational but Ghat No. 6 is closed most of the year due to the navigability crisis. Although ghats no. 3, 4 and 7 are operational, dredging has started since the water receded near ferry ghat no. 7 Ro Ro (Big) for a month.

Also said, the estimated cost of removing 4.2 million cubic meters of soil from Hijla-Ulania to Mawa for the transportation of heavy goods from Hijla-Ulania to Mawa is estimated at 87.5 million taka. In the current financial year 2024-25, around 1 lakh 40 thousand meters of soil has been removed from Daulatdia and Dhawa Para areas on an emergency basis from October 22. Bangladesh Navy's Narayanganj Dock Yard and Engineering (DEW) contractor is carrying out the dredging work.

Habibur Rahman, the driver of Seva Green Line transport from Dhaka Gabtali, said that when the water in the river was high and there was a lot of current, it used to take 30-40 minutes to cross. This is disrupting the ferry service. Now it takes more time.

Mahmudul Hasan, the second master of ferry Shah Paran, said that since the beginning of the dry season, the risk of ferry traffic is increasing as the water level of Padma is decreasing every day. Ferries are moving cautiously through the channel as the water depth near Daulatdia ghat has decreased. Large ferries have not been able to ply for a month due to reduced water near ghat number 7. Even if it is opened occasionally, for a week the big ferry is closed again due to crowding. Utility (small) ferries are becoming crowded as only one pocket is operational.

Number 6 ferry ghat area fishmonger Md. Chandu Molla said, the ghat is closed due to erosion during monsoon. Three ghats have been closed for several years. In addition to ferry closures due to fog during the dry season, ferry closures occur due to navigability crisis. Passengers have to cross through this route with suffering throughout the year, he feels that there is no alternative to a second Padma Bridge on the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway.

Daulatdia Ghat Branch Manager (Trade) of BIWTC. Salah Uddin said that the ferry service on the Daulatdia-Paturia route is being disrupted due to the navigability crisis and drowning. However, the excavation is ongoing. Hopefully, soon the navigability crisis will be removed and the ferry crossing will be normal.

Hasan Ahmed, Executive Engineer of Excavation Department of BIWTA Aricha office, said that dredging is going on with two dredgers of the Navy in a stretch of 100 meters in about two kilometers from Daulatdia to Paturia waterway.

Water depth of 12 feet is generally required for ferries on this waterway. At present, as the water depth is low, efforts are being made to maintain navigability by dredging.