Launch services on three routes has been hampered for one month due to poor navigability in around seven major rivers in Barisal region.

Operations of vessels on the three routes -- Barisal-Dhaka, Barisal-Bhola and Barisal-Mehendiganj -- out of 10 became risky, said Azizul Haque Akkas, president of Launch Owners Association.

In the last one month, launches could not reach their respective destination on time in every trip, he said, “They were late for one or two hours.”

Around 10,000 passengers travel in 15 vessels through the routes on a daily basis, he added.

The rivers losing their navigability are the Arial Khan, Meghna, Kirtonkhola, Andharmanik, Maskata, Joyonti, and Sandhya.

Saidur Rahaman Rintu, owner of a launch plying Dhaka-Barisal route, said sometimes the launch gets stuck at Miar Char, Bhasan Char and Sreepur points in the Meghna.

Belayet Hossain, a helmsman of a launch on Barisal-Bhola route, said vessels have to move slowly through the Sreepur point to avoid accident.

Nazrul Hossain Akash, a college teacher, said once it took around three hours to reach his Patarhat College in Mehendiganj from Barisal but now it takes four to five hours.

Ajmol Huda Mithu, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (River Safety and Traffic) said some helmsmen informed them of poor navigability at different points including Miar Char, Bhasan Char and Sreepur.

The Miarchar channel of the Meghna is being dredged for a week, he said, adding that dredging would start at the other points gradually.