Sandwip finally free from 'disgraceful' connectivity woes, says Yunus

The chief advisor virtually addresses the opening of the country's first martime ferry service connecting the island Upazila to the mainland

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has decried the decades-long lack of a safe transportation system in the island Upazila of Sandwip as a "disgrace".

Speaking at the inauguration of the island's first ferry service on Monday, he said: "Why did the people of Sandwip have to wade through mud and use small boats to cross the sea all these years? Sandwip is one of the country's key coastal islands."

"Yet, even after 50 years, why was a safe transportation system not established? How shameful! Today, safe connectivity to Sandwip has finally been established. The fact that it took this long is an embarrassment. We are finally free from this disgrace."

The leader of the interim government joined the launch virtually on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, at 9am, the first ferry departed from Sitakunda’s Bashbaria towards Guptachara in Sandwip by sea. The one-hour journey marked a historic milestone, and thousands of people gathered at the ferry terminal to welcome its arrival.

Calling it a joyous day not just for Sandwip but for all of Chattogram, Yunus said: "I am delighted to bring you this good news in the month of our independence. This marks the beginning of Sandwip’s progress, and it will only get better from here."

"This is how the country will advance -- through balanced development in all regions."

Speaking at the event, Shipping Advisor M Sakhawat Hussain proposed naming the two ferry terminals after Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Saimun Hossain Mahin, martyrs of the July Movement in Sandwip.

"No development in Bangladesh will be truly successful unless rural and remote areas have improved connectivity. Before launching this ferry service, we had to clear illegal occupations from the river terminals. Given Sandwip’s coastal location, launching a ferry service here was extremely challenging."

Road Transport Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan, a native of Sandwip, credited the chief advisor for making the ferry service a reality.

"Back in August, I told him how women in Sandwip had to struggle through mud and water just to cross the sea. He immediately responded, ‘This cannot continue. A solution must be found.’"

"This was a challenging project because Bangladesh had no prior experience with operating sea ferries. But today, we have overcome that challenge."