BSS. Barisal Navigation in the rivers of southern region of the country has been severely disrupted due to fall in water level, shortage of buoy-lams, icon lamps, speckle buoys, heavy fog and absence of proper dredging.

Communications through the water routes of Barisai-Dhaka, Barisal-Ramgati and Barisal-Khulna are being disrupted with the siltation of rivers and experts opined that if this situation continues, the plying of first class heavy river craft would be stopped within next ten years.

Meanwhile, some light water craft also can not ply in some water routes due to fall of water levels in rivers and canals in this season.

The navigability at 11 points on Barisai-Dhaka, Barisal-Ramgati and Barisal-Khulna routes has already been decreased to a great extent.

The depth of water at these points has been recorded at about 6 to 8 feet at the time of ebb-(ide while it increases only from 9 10 10 feet at the time of full-tide now-a-days.

As a result, oil tankers, coasters, cargoes and passengers’ ships can not ply normally in this season.

1 he masters of these waler vessels have lo wail lor long lime 10

carry ihe passengers to their destinations.

Besides, river craft used to run aground at different points of the routes in this dry season. A number of luxurious double-decker passenger launches ran aground al Daori outlet of Kodalpur, Kaih-potty of Munshiganj, and Alurba-zar of Chandpur on Barisai-Dhaka route during the current season, said one launch master Matiar Rahman.

A BIWTA pilot of Barisal-Ramgati route, preferred to remain anonymous told BSS that, the navigability of this route has decreased due to shoals emerging at Mahisha Char. Babnir Char, Shiblir (’har, Shaula Char and Char Commissioner under Me-hendigonj upazila.

Besides, three pilots of Barisal-Khulna water routes Harun-or-Rashid, Ruhul Amin and Dudu Mia. told this correspondent that Gabkhan Channel of Jhalakathi, Ghasiakhali of Mongla Port and Old ( halna areas have been hindering the movement of the heavy waler craft on (he way.

The heavy water vessels, however, run from Barisal to Khulna via Bay of Bengal. These crafi do not have fitness certificates on plying from the Bay of Bengal, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the Barisal Launch Owners Association has alleged that due to foul play by the BIWFA authorities, the desired results could not be obtained from dredging although crores of taka are being spent every year.