
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has temporarily halted the launch services on 20 internal river routes of Bhola due to inclement weather and monsoon wind.
Bhola Meteorological Department observer Md Moniruzzaman said that warning signal number three had been issued in the district and there was a possibility of rain and thunderstorms in the area till September 7.
Meanwhile, passenger launches and government sea-truck operations have been suspended on 20 internal river routes in the district, including Elisha to Lakshmipur, Monpura to Dhaka and Charfasson to Dhaka.
Passengers are suffering immensely due to the suspension of launch and sea-truck operations.
BIWTC Bhola zone manager Md Kausar Ahmed said that ferries were operating on the Bhola-Barishal and Bhola-Lakshmipur routes.
The waterways closed due to adverse weather conditions are Bhola’s Ilisha-Lakshmipur, Ilisha-Mehendiganj, Bhola-Baufal, Lalmohan-Nazirpur, Daulatkhan-Alexander, Tazumuddin-Manpura, Manpura-Hatia, Charfasson-Manpura, Charfasson-Dhaka, Manpura-Dhaka, Charfasson-Ghosher Hat-Dhaka, Burhanuddin’s Hakimuddin-Dhaka, Bheduria Ghat-Barisal’s Lahar Hat, Charfasson’s Kachchhpia-Dhalchar, Charfasson’s Kachchia–Kukri-Mukri, Charfasson’s Kachchia-Char Patila, Charfasson’s Abubakarpur-Dashmina, Bhola Sadar’s Tulatuli-Majher Char, Bhola Sadar’s Navigation is closed between Elisha-Ramdaspur and Bhola Sadar’s Nasir Majhi-Daulatkhan’s Char Madanpur union.
BIWTA-Bhola Port officer Riyad Hossain said that launches would be able to ply if the river was normal for navigation.