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Published : 27 Jul 2026, 12:51 PM
The only sea-truck serving Bhola's Monpura Upazila has remained out of operation for four months, forcing around 150,000 residents to rely on overcrowded, unfit trawlers to cross the rough Meghna River.
On Monday, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials cited mechanical faults followed by delays in renewing the vessel's lease, while locals criticised the authorities for failing to restore the service and stop illegal passenger transport.
Residents said the ST Ilisha sea-truck was introduced on the Tajumuddin-Monpura route to provide a safe crossing through the Meghna, including a dangerous stretch where passenger boats without a sea survey certificate are barred.
The vessel broke down in mid-March and remained idle after its lease expired.
Kawsar Ahmed Khan, BIWTC's Bhola (Ilisha) office manager, said the vessel had been repaired but could not resume operations because of lease-related complications.
A new lessee has now been appointed and the service is likely to restart soon, he added.
Locals, however, said at least seven unauthorised trawlers without fitness certificates or permission to carry passengers have continued operating for months, yet the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken no action.
A visit to the Tazumuddin sea-truck terminal found about 100 passengers crammed into a tarpaulin-covered cargo trawler after crossing rough waters.
None of the vessels carried lifesaving equipment.
Passengers said they had no choice but to pay higher fares for unsafe crossings.
They said patients, elderly people and children faced the greatest hardship, while engine failures in mid-river sometimes left passengers stranded for hours.
Shipping Advisor Rajib Ahsan recently said the government would arrange vessels through public or private operators to reduce suffering on the route and ensure residents were not left without transport.
Bhola has five BIWTC sea-trucks.
Four operate on the Ilisha-Moju Chowdhury Ghat route, while the only vessel serving Monpura has remained out of service for four months.
Passengers described the crossings as terrifying, saying large waves frequently rocked the trawlers and storms often left women and children in tears.
Nirmal Kumar Roy, assistant port and transport officer at BIWTA's Bhola River Port, said he was unaware of illegal passenger trawlers operating in the danger zone and would look into the matter.
