Baghabari needs dredging

Sirajganj: Baghabari, the only river-port of the country's northern region, is about to be rendered non-functional because the river-bed are not being dredged regularly resulting in siltation, said sources.


Thirty-seven steamers, carryings fertiliser, oil and raw materials for cement, worth about Tk 30 million (3.0 crore), are standing still at the link-point of Jamuna and Baral at Mohonganj.


If the channel is not dredged at the point, Baghabari river-port might be non-functional forever. As a result, the government would lose Tk 10.80 billion (1,080 crore) each year. Besides, about 20,000 people, connected with the port would be in dire straits, the sources also said.


Meanwhile, Sirajganj Water Development Board (WDB) in order to stop the erosion of the river bank dumped almost a thousand sack of sand at the link-point, creating further impediment to the steamers' movement, the sources added.


Fertiliser, oil and other goods worth about Tk 0.9 billion are supplied from the port every month, and about 5,000 day-labourers work here every day.


However, when Indian giant TATA planned to establish an industry at Pabna's Ishawrdi, investing Tk 65 million, it required Baghabari river-port, which could be used for creating connectivity with Chittagong port, experts said.