By Al-Amin Shahriar

BHOLA, June 26, 2026 (BSS) - A prolonged navigability crisis in the Meghna River continues to cause severe disruption on the Bhola-Lakshmipur water route with the emergence of numerous underwater sandbars.

The emerged sandbars forcing ferries and passenger launches to endure lengthy delays while travelling the approximately 45-kilometre route, causing elongated travel time and burning more fuel.
  
The deterioration of navigability in the Meghna river has further endangered operations on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route and water transport is now largely dependent on tidal conditions.

While vessels departing from Bhola are being forced to take a 12-kilometre diversion to avoid submerged shoals before reaching the Lakshmipur terminal, resulting vehicles remain stuck for extended periods. 

Passengers of the route have demanded immediate and continuous dredging of the river as well as relocation of the Lakshmipur ferry terminal to the Motirhat area to reduce public suffering.

During a recent visit on the route, it was found that ferries and launches on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route are travelling several kilometers remoter because of submerged sandbars that have emerged near Ilisha Ghat in Bhola.
 
Similar underwater bars have appeared at several points along the Meghna River.

The most severe navigability problem has developed along an approximately four-kilometer expand near Char Romoni on the approach from the Bhola section of the Meghna to Majhu Chowdhury's Ghat in Lakshmipur.
 
When a ferry becomes stranded in the channel, it has to wait three to four hours for high tide, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.

The emergence of additional submerged bars at different points in the Meghna has further worsened the navigability crisis. 

The extended travel time is also causing losses as perishable agricultural produce and other goods carried by long-distance vehicles are being damaged, affecting both the regional and national economy.

Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said the navigability crisis has reduced the number of ferry trips, resulting in lower government revenue. 
BIWTC Bhola Regional Manager (Ferry Service) Md. Kawsar Ahammed told BSS that the issue had been brought to the attention of the respective authorities several times and that they had assured steps would be taken to resolve the problem.

A similar situation prevails on the Bhola-Barishal water route.

Numerous submerged sandbars have formed west of Bheduria Ghat and in the Sripur area of Bhola, disrupting vessel movement. 

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has assured that necessary measures, including accelerated dredging, are being taken to ease public suffering. 

Commenting on the issue, BIWTA Assistant Director of the Bhola River Port Division Nirmal Kumar Roy told BSS that dredging activities are currently underway to address the navigability crisis.

Bhola Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shamim Rahman told the media that he is maintaining communication with the relevant authorities to restore navigability in the district's rivers and expressed hope that the problem would be resolved soon.

Ferry and other water transport services on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route began in 2008. 

According to available information, 10 Ro-Ro ferries and more than 20 passenger launches operate on the Bhola-Lakshmipur-Barishal water route, carrying over 10,000 passengers daily. 

As passengers of the routes have been suffering for a long time, they have urged the government and respective authorities to take immediate and effective actions to restore navigability of the rivers by regular dredging the rivers.