The launch services along the Dhaka-Khulna river route have been closed down because of siltation in some rivers.

Launch services along Gopalganj-Ghagan-Khulna via Mollarhat and Takerhat-Khulna via Gopalganj have also been closed down due to this phenomenon.

As a result the 235-kilometre (km) long river route has been closed down.

The depth of three rivers reduced at some points to such an extent that even the small boats can not ply. The absence of dredging has aggravated the situation further.

Shoals have emerged in many places in the rivers of Modhumati, Kumar, Ghagon and also in the MBR canal due to heavy siltation.

Thousands of people and hundreds of small businessmen move and carry their goods such as rice, rabi crops, milk, fish, green coconut, vegetables and betel leaf from Gazirhat in Khulna, Kalia, Mohijan, Bardia, Jogania, Phandanga and Chapail in Narial and Borfa, Tala, Sultanshahi, Sktail, Manikeha, Hariduspur, Ulpm, Baltail, Satpar, Jalhirpar and Shindia ghat in Gopalganj and Tekerhat, Sreenadi, Kabirajpur, Kachirighat, Rajarhat and Lowkhola in Madaripur to various parts of the country.

When contacted an engineer working with the Water Development Board (WDB), Gopalganj said that they already sent an estimate to the higher authorities. According to the estimate an amount of Tk 127500000 is required for keeping the rivers free from siltation. Huge silts have been deposited in the river beds because of the geological characteristic of the country.

As most of these rivers flow slowly, these leave silt,

resulting in emergence of shoals. Silts are being deposited for years together hampering navigation, he added.

An official sources said that the water level has dropped in the Modhumati at old Manikdha, in Kumar at Dignagar, in Ghagon at Chargopalpur and Madaripur Beel route (MBR) canal at South Jalipar.

The WDB sources further informed that 18 to 20 feet layer of silts have been been deposited in the Modhamati at old Manikdha ghat and at the southern side of old Hariduspur ghat, 8 to 10 feet layer of silt in the Kumer at Dignagar, 12 to 15 feet layer of silt in the Ghagar river at Chargopalpur and 8 to 10 feet layer of silt along in the MBR canal at South Jalirpar.

The people and small businessmen move and carry their goods, to Dhaka and Khulna via Gopalganj, Mollarhat and Shikarpur after stoppage in Dhaka at high cost.

As a result hundreds of small businessmen left their business and turned into day labourers.

Meanwhile, country-made mechanised boats have become the main river transport for carrying passengers and commodities. At present over 100 such engine boats have been plying along different routes in the Modhumati river of the district. But journey by these boats is very risky. Accidents occur frequently. Armed robberies are also being committed along the routes.

Moreover, the connecting canals and beels (water bodies) also dried up. As a result irrigation of the localities is being hampered to a great extent.

A large number of fishermen became unemployed due to large scale siltation in the rivers.

People of the areas urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to dredge the silted rivers immediately to mitigate the sufferings of the people.