Noapara port faces severe navigability issues amid rise in shipwrecks

The Noapara river port, located beside the Bhairab River in Abhaynagar upazila, Jashore, has become increasingly dangerous due to poor navigability, a narrow channel, and other contributing factors.

Over the past 18 months, more than 15 cargo ships have sunk near the port, one of the country's busiest river ports.

Cargo ship owners, workers, and authorities cite four main reasons for these frequent shipwrecks. First, the navigability of the Bhairab River at the port is worsening daily due to irregular dredging. Some areas are deep, while others are not dredged at all.

Second, encroachment is gradually narrowing the river. Third, inexperienced shipmasters anchor vessels along the riverbanks instead of keeping them in the main channel. Fourth, older ships, lacking timely repairs, fail to withstand excess cargo weight, leading to cracks in their bottoms and sinking.

The Noapara river port spans 20km from Mujotkhali to Afra Ghat. On 9 February, a cargo ship, MV Seven Seas-4, carrying 850 tonnes of urea fertiliser, sank in the Shubharara area after its hull cracked.

The ship's master, Jewel Hossain, said, "While unloading the fertiliser, the vessel struck a rock or a hard object on the riverbed during low tide. This ruptured the hull, and as the tide rose, the ship gradually sank."

Earlier, on 25 January, the MV Western-2, loaded with 700 tonnes of wheat, capsized and sank in the Siddhipasha area. Similarly, on 15 December last year, the MV R Razzak sank with 820 tonnes of coal.

On 13 April last year, the MV Sakib Biva-2 sank at Nona Ghat area while carrying 685 tonnes of coal valued at Tk1.1 crore. Likewise, on 15 January last year, the MV Purbachal-7 sank with nearly 800 tonnes of coal, and on 13 January, the MV Moumoni-1 went down with 700 tonnes of coal due to a hull breach.

A worker from one of the ships said that although the number of vessels on the Bhairab River has increased, there are very few anchoring spots, and the low water levels create serious difficulties. There has long been a demand for regular dredging and the construction of safe jetties to keep the Noapara river port operational and secure.

Chowdhury Minhaj-Uz Zaman Sajal, treasurer of Khulna Divisional Inland Shipping Owners Group, said, "Noapara port, the largest river-based economic hub in the southwest, has been in a dire state for a long time. The river's navigability has decreased, and as water levels continue to drop, it is shrinking. We have repeatedly called for proper dredging, but no action has been taken."

Niamul Islam Rico, member secretary of the Bangladesh Water Transport Workers' Federation, Noapara branch, said, "The navigability crisis of the Bhairab River in Noapara is severe. Encroachment is narrowing the river, and dredging is inconsistent—some areas are deep, while others are untouched. As a result, ships frequently sink."

Aditya Majumdar, an importer of fertiliser and food grains, said, "We constantly face serious problems. We have to build our own docks. While the number of cargo ships carrying imported goods is rising, there is no development. We keep paying taxes but receive no facilities."

Shah Jalal Hossain, general secretary of the Noapara Fertiliser and Food Grain Traders' Association, said, "The business and trade of Noapara revolve around the Bhairab River. We pay our taxes properly, yet there is no development at the river port. Even small ships struggle to dock. We demanded the construction of a guide wall, but it has not been built."

In the fiscal year 2023-24, 1,613 ships arrived at the river port, carrying 706,813 tonnes of goods, generating a government revenue of Tk2.65 crore.

In the previous fiscal year, 2022-23, 1,584 ships transported 692,313 tonnes of goods. In 2021-22, 1,375 ships carried 590,220 tonnes, and in 2020-21, 1,205 ships transported 538,920 tonnes of goods.

Regarding this, Md Masud Parvez, deputy director of Noapara river port, said, "All rivers are facing navigability issues. Dredging is currently taking place in the Bhairab River.

"The main problem is that unskilled master-drivers do not follow regulations and anchor their ships outside the main channel, near the riverbanks. Also, because the hulls of older ships are not regularly docked or repaired, they often encounter accidents during low tide due to the pressure of excessive cargo."

Speaking about development plans for the port, Masud Parvez said, "The government has started significant work for Noapara river port. We have major plans, and projects are already underway. Once implemented, more ships will be able to dock here.

"Despite the challenges, the number of cargo ships arriving at our port has been increasing every year, leading to higher revenue."