The long-awaited launch of a ferry service connecting Sandwip to the mainland of Chattogram was inaugurated on Monday.聽
Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus attended the inaugural ceremony virtually as chief guest at Sandwip upazila parishad in Chattogram.
鈥楽andwip is one of the country鈥檚 key coastal islands. But why did it take 50 years to establish a secure transportation link?鈥� said Muhammad Yunus.
Earlier in the morning, the first ferry departed from Sitakunda鈥檚 Banshbaria at 9:00am, reaching Guptachara in Sandwip in just one hour.
People of the area gathered at the newly established ferry terminal to welcome the vessel鈥檚 arrival, marking a significant moment for the island.
The chief adviser further said that he was delighted to inaugurate the launch in the month of independence.聽
鈥楾oday is a joyous day not just for the people of Sandwip, but for all of Chattogram,鈥� he said, adding that this progress marked the beginning of a brighter future for Sandwip.
He also mentioned that a balanced development approach across all regions was crucial for national advancement.
Ministry of Shipping adviser M Sakhawat Hussain proposed naming the two ferry terminals after July-August uprising martyrs Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Saimun Hossain Mahin.
鈥楴o development effort in Bangladesh will be truly effective without improved communication facilities for remote areas. Before launching the ferry, we had to clear encroachments from the terminal area,鈥� he said, adding that establishing ferry services along the coastal region was a major challenge.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs adviser Faruk E Azam, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder, and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock adviser Farida Akhter were present at the programme at Sandwip.
Special assistants to the chief adviser Khoda Baksh Chowdhury and Md Sayedur Rahman also spoke at the programme, which was presided over by shipping ministry secretary Mohammed Yousuf.
聽Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mustafa delivered the welcome speech at the event.
With the direct Chattogram-Sandwip ferry service now operational, the new ferry allows buses, trucks, minibuses and cars to reach the island, expecting to boost economic activities and improve living standards.
BIWTA鈥檚 Chattogram deputy director Md Kamruzzaman said, 鈥楾he ferry journey between Chattogram and Sandwip now takes just one hour and ten minutes. Considering tidal conditions, four trips are scheduled daily.鈥�
Each trip can accommodate up to 35 vehicles and 600 passengers per trip. The fare structure has been set as common passenger Tk 100, motorcycle Tk 200, CNG-run auto-rickshaw Tk 500, car Tk 900, bus Tk 3,300, truck Tk 3,350, and 10-wheeler truck Tk 5,700.
