Bad weather affects water routes

Bad weather took a toll on the river connectivity throughout Bangladesh today, forcing suspension of operations at several key points.

Launch operations were suspended from Dhaka and Narayanganj and the southern district of Barisal which relies on water routes to connect to the country.

Bad weather forced suspension of operation on 38 routes from Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka for half-an-hour, Joynal Abdin, joint director (port traffic) of Bangladesh Inland Water and Transport Authority (BIWTA), told The Daily Star Online.

In Narayanganj, launch operations in five routes that included link to Chandpur and Munshiganj were stopped since 8:00am, our local correspondent reports quoting Babu Lal Baidya, local BIWTA river port deputy director.

Launch operation on these routes will remain suspended until further instructions.

In Barisal, small and mid-size launches and other means of water transport were stopped, our local correspondent reports quoting Abul Bashar Mazumdar, deputy director (traffic) of BIWTA.

Port authorities were advised to hoist cautionary signal-2 at all ports, he added. “Triple-deck launches have been asked to ply cautiously.”

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has said that the rain, that came days ahead of the start of monsoon, might continue for two or three more days.