Cox’s Bazar Correspondent :
For want of a permanent jetty, passengers travelling between Cox’s Bazar and the islands-Maheshkhali and Kutubdia through Kasturaghat, the main ferry ghat in Cox’s Bazar town, are going through extreme suffering.
Due to filling up of Bankkhali River by the emergence of numerous shoals, the suffering reaches its peak during ebb tide.
More than 7,00,000 (seven lakh) inhabitants of Maheskhali and Kutubdia island upazilas under Cox’s Bazar commute to and from the district town through the Kasturaghat ferry ghat. But as shoals have emerged in the Bankkhali River, water vessels cannot be anchored at the jetty. As a result, by placing some wooden boats passengers can reach the mainland. But the women and children, particularly the patients suffer much.
Passengers said once passengers could easily board trawlers or speedboats from the town’s Kasturaghat. Moreover, the approach way to the jetty has turned nearly one kilometre long. The connection with the land is maintained by placing some wooden boats for which passengers count extra fares. Besides, the wooden jetty is not free from risk. Often passengers fall down from it.
General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar district speedboat owners’ association Nasrullah said, “During the dry season, water level falls causing emergence of numerous shoals at different places which impeded normal plying of water vehicles.”
Cox’s Bazar municipal mayor Sarwar Kamal said, “Municipal authority is aware of passengers’ plights. To alleviate their sufferings, a plan to set up a permanent jetty at Kasturaghat has been taken. To provide better service to the passengers, public toilets have been made at Kasturaghat.” A modern jetty being built, passengers of Maheskhali-Kutubdia will reach the district headquarters by walking directly from the jetty and it will save their money, he added.
Meanwhile, passengers plying through the Kasturaghat have demanded immediate dredging of river and setting up of a permanent jetty at the ghat.
For want of a permanent jetty, passengers travelling between Cox’s Bazar and the islands-Maheshkhali and Kutubdia through Kasturaghat, the main ferry ghat in Cox’s Bazar town, are going through extreme suffering.
Due to filling up of Bankkhali River by the emergence of numerous shoals, the suffering reaches its peak during ebb tide.
More than 7,00,000 (seven lakh) inhabitants of Maheskhali and Kutubdia island upazilas under Cox’s Bazar commute to and from the district town through the Kasturaghat ferry ghat. But as shoals have emerged in the Bankkhali River, water vessels cannot be anchored at the jetty. As a result, by placing some wooden boats passengers can reach the mainland. But the women and children, particularly the patients suffer much.
Passengers said once passengers could easily board trawlers or speedboats from the town’s Kasturaghat. Moreover, the approach way to the jetty has turned nearly one kilometre long. The connection with the land is maintained by placing some wooden boats for which passengers count extra fares. Besides, the wooden jetty is not free from risk. Often passengers fall down from it.
General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar district speedboat owners’ association Nasrullah said, “During the dry season, water level falls causing emergence of numerous shoals at different places which impeded normal plying of water vehicles.”
Cox’s Bazar municipal mayor Sarwar Kamal said, “Municipal authority is aware of passengers’ plights. To alleviate their sufferings, a plan to set up a permanent jetty at Kasturaghat has been taken. To provide better service to the passengers, public toilets have been made at Kasturaghat.” A modern jetty being built, passengers of Maheskhali-Kutubdia will reach the district headquarters by walking directly from the jetty and it will save their money, he added.
Meanwhile, passengers plying through the Kasturaghat have demanded immediate dredging of river and setting up of a permanent jetty at the ghat.
