Several routes in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra have been closed due to navigability crisis in the
Jamuna River. Boats are getting stuck on submerged sholas, while vessel movement on the
main route continues with extreme difficulty, causing immense suffering for passengers and
farmers in the char areas.
Local sources said that even a few years ago, the Jamuna carried strong currents and sufficient
water during the monsoon, often inundating vast areas of Sariakandi upazila. At that time, the
river remained fully navigable. However, this year the water level did not cross the danger mark
and no flooding occurred. Over the past several months, the river’s water level has dropped
sharply, triggering an acute navigability crisis.
As a result, numerous shoals have emerged across the river. Boatmen are often forced to get
into the water and push their boats over the shoals with their shoulders, making crossings slow,
risky and labourious.
The busiest route between Sariakandi and Madarganj has been hit particularly hard. A massive
shoal stretching nearly one kilometre has emerged near the Kalitala groyne embankment. To
keep the route marginally operational, boatmen have pooled money to cut a narrow canal
through the sandbar. Despite this temporary measure, more than a hundred boats struggle
daily to operate through various ferry ghats.
Several ferry ghats—including Altaf Ali Ghat at Partit Parol village, Hasnapara, Nijbalai,
Dighapara and Charalkandi—have remained closed for months due to the navigability crisis.
Large portions of the Jamuna have turned into vast sandy tracts, forcing farmers to transport
their produce across sandbars with great difficulty. Many are compelled to use horse carts at
high cost, while others carry their produce on foot.
More than half of Sariakandi’s agricultural output comes from the Jamuna char areas. Rising
transportation costs have significantly increased production expenses, while farmers complain
they are not receiving fair prices in the market.
Altaf Ali, a boatman at the Altaf Ali ferry ghat, said the ghat has remained closed for months
because of low water levels. “I won’t even be able to recover the lease money I paid this year,”
he said.
Mohsin Ali, a farmer from Kuripara char under Kajla Union, said adequate water in the river
would allow easy transportation of crops by boat. “Now we have to pay Tk 120 to transport
fertiliser, chilli and other crops by horse cart. Our production costs are rising, but market prices
are not increasing accordingly,” he added.
Aminul Islam, a boatman at Kalitala ferry ghat, said boats are repeatedly getting stuck on
sandbars. “We are continuing operations with great difficulty. Using our own funds, we have
carried out limited dredging to keep the busiest route open,” he said.
Bogra Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman said that the construction of a river port at
Sariakandi is currently underway. “Once the port is established, the river route will remain
under year-round dredging,” he said, advising the parties concerned to contact the Bangladesh
Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). He also suggested contacting the Water
Development Board regarding river dredging.
