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Published : 25 Jul 2025, 11:25 PM
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) have suspended launch and ferry services on 10 inland routes in Bhola as a low-pressure system forms over the Bay of Bengal.
Rain began as light drizzle in spots and became moderate with gusting winds from Friday morning.
The system, tracking northwest, strengthened into a depression, roughening Meghna and Tentulia rivers in Bhola district.
Riverside zones outside flood embankments now face flooding of three to four feet above ground level.
Rising Meghna River water has submerged sections of the Ilisha launch terminal gangway, forcing passengers to board at personal risk.
Md Jasim Uddin, transport inspector at BIWTA’s Bhola river port, confirmed launches on ten routes -- including Ilisha‑Lakshmipur, Doulatkhan‑Alexander, Tazumuddin‑Monpura, Monpura‑Dhaka, Hatiya‑Dhaka and Char Fesson‑Dhaka -- are suspended until further notice.
Stranded travelers and goods‑carrying truck drivers at Ilisha Ghat face hardship with no water transport available to Chattogram, Noakhali or Lakshmipur.
Passengers said they remain unable to return to work and waited hours at the Ghat after learning services were halted, some going home after two to three hours waiting.
Jasim said signal No. 3 had been hoisted at maritime ports, and signal No. 1 at inland river ports due to the low-pressure system. As the Meghna remained turbulent, passenger launches were suspended for safety.
Ferry services on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route were also stopped in the morning, he added.
2 TRAWLERS CAPSIZE IN MEGHNA, 12 FISHERMEN RESCUED
Two fishing trawlers capsized in separate incidents on the Meghna River in Bhola’s Sadar and Char Fasson Upazilas on Friday amid adverse weather conditions.
Police said six fishermen were rescued after their trawler sank near Ilisha Ghat in the morning, while six others were saved after their boat capsized in the remote eastern part of Dhalchar later in the day.
A boatman known only as Ibrahim said fellow boatman Md Zafar had taken six crew members out to fish in the morning. Their trawler capsized around noon while they were hauling in nets.
The fishermen were left adrift until another nearby trawler of Zafar’s spotted them and rescued all six.
He added that the river appeared calm in the morning but later roughened with strong waves and rain, making navigation hazardous.
Ilisha River Police Station chief Md Shahin Uddin said the first trawler sank around 11am while returning from a fishing trip. A nearby vessel responded quickly and rescued all six fishermen.
Later in the day, another boat capsized near Char Kukri Mukri in Purba Dhalchar. Sub-Inspector Suklayan Biswas of the local River Police outpost confirmed that six more fishermen were rescued and no casualties were reported.
