Sadarghat’s legacy struggles with the decline in launch service

For generations, taking a launch from Dhaka to the southern districts was more than just a way to travel—it was a cherished tradition. Families gathered on the decks, the night breeze carried the scent of the river, and the steady hum of the engines lulled passengers to sleep.

But those days are fading.

Ninety launches used to operate on 42 routes; now it's down to 62 on 36 routes. Six routes have shut down entirely due to a lack of passengers. The reason? The Padma Bridge—and a country moving faster than its rivers.

Launch operators, who have made significant investments in their vessels, are now grappling with financial instability. Reduced passenger numbers mean lower revenues. 

According to some launch owners, they barely managed to operate the launch at a break-even point.

This has forced some operators to cut back on services, leaving even fewer launches on the river. The ripple effects are felt throughout the local economy, from the crew who work on these boats to the hawkers and porters who rely on the daily bustle at the terminal.

End of the Dhaka-Barishal route's glory

The Dhaka-Barishal route was home to some of Sadarghat's most luxurious launches, famed for their elegant decor and cosy amenities, so much so that regular passengers often likened them to five-star hotels on water.

The rhythmic chug of engines and the splash of oars weren't just sounds; they were echoes of stories, emotions and lives unfolding. The teenager who stormed out of his home after a fight, the couple who eloped under the cover of night—launches were more than transport; they were a part of Barishal's soul. 

Even Nargis's famous song, Borishaler lonchey uitha—controversial to some in more conservative circles, is a testament to this deep-rooted connection.

With spacious cabins, comforting meals, and modern facilities, they made river travel not just convenient but genuinely enjoyable. Their grand interiors and smooth, unhurried journeys once defined the golden era of launch travel in Bangladesh. An era that, even just five years ago, seemed like it would never fade.

Unfortunately, this route is the one to see the sharpest decline. When the Padma Bridge opened in mid-2022, a large number of travellers from Barishal and nearby districts like Patuakhali, Barguna, and Jhalokathi switched to buses.

"Before the bridge, we had five to eight launches departing for Barishal and returning each day. Now, only two make the trip in each direction," said Nurul Islam, supervisor of the Sundarban-12 vessel.

Many launches now sit idle at the terminal, only operating on a rotation basis. "Each launch gets about five trips a month on average, which isn't enough to cover costs," Nurul added. With fewer trips, business has taken a hit.

Some crew members have lost their jobs, but those still employed are being paid regularly, according to one of the staff.

Shafiq, the supervisor of Pubali-1, which runs on the Barguna route, shared a similar story. "We used to have two launches leaving for Barguna every day, with another two returning to Dhaka. Now, there's just one, and it only runs every other day."

For some owners, keeping launches afloat has become unsustainable. According to another staff member, some vessels have even been sold off as scrap.

Since the Padma Bridge has connected much of southern Bangladesh, all the routes leading to areas accessible via the bridge have been affected.

Two launches used to operate on the Dhaka-Amtali route, but now no launch departs for Amtali. The number of launches has also decreased on the Patuakhali, Khepupara, and Muladi routes.

The less-hit routes

Despite the overall decline, the Chandpur, Bhola, and Hatia routes have been less affected by the opening of the Padma Bridge.

A staff member from a Hatia-bound launch shared that they are still getting a decent number of passengers, adding that the bridge's impact on their route has been minimal.

However, another staff member pointed out that many travellers now take a bus to Barishal and then continue to Bhola by launch or speedboat.

That said, the growing number of tourist spots and their rising popularity have helped offset some of the losses.

The peripheral economy

The decline in the launch service has affected more than just the vessels themselves. Many small businesses that rely on launch passengers are struggling to survive.

Small vendors at Sadarghat terminal once made a steady income selling Jhalmuri, nuts and fruits to travellers.

"Just a couple of years ago, I could sell all the muri I brought from home within hours, but now sales have dropped significantly," Billah, the Jhalmuri seller at Sadarghat, said with a sigh. "The number of launches has declined, and so has the number of passengers."

Billah has been selling Jhalmuri at Sadarghat for one and half a decades. His business is at its lowest point it has ever been.

Similarly, porters who earned their living by carrying passengers' luggage are now earning much less.

Even small traders who sold snacks, souvenirs, and children's books at the launches are feeling the impact. With fewer people travelling by river, their customer base has shrunk.

"Fewer passengers are choosing the river route these days, and my sales have taken a hit. While I can still support my family with what I earn, it was better just a couple of years ago," said Sumon, an off-brand gadget seller at Sadarghat.

He also said that the number of businesses at Sadarghat has shrunk in the last few years and many sellers have moved to somewhere else.

The way ahead

Long accustomed to crowded terminals during festive seasons, many now arrive to find a surprisingly empty platform. For some, the river still holds a nostalgic appeal.

The reasons for the decline are clear. Beyond the lure of faster road travel, issues at the Sadarghat terminal have also played a part. Severe traffic congestion along the route to the terminal, along with reports of harassment by terminal staff, have added to the woes of launch passengers.

"Besides the swift travel enabled by the Padma Bridge, the terminal and launch staff's behaviour is the key reason for people to avoid taking a launch," said Minhaz, a passenger of Sundarban-12.

"Moreover, the process of a launch journey is inefficient, even if you keep the slow speed aside, you have to come early for a cabin, or a good place on the deck, and this kills a lot of time," Minhaz added.

Every journey is unpredictable — and so is the launch journey. But its dependence on the weather and natural events is much greater than that of a bus journey.

"People are more time-conscious now, and they want a smoother journey," said one passenger, explaining why many have shifted away from launch travel.

With passenger numbers dwindling, the need to modernise vessels and improve service quality has become more urgent than ever. Introducing better amenities and diversifying services could help the industry regain some of its lost appeal.

Muhammad Mubarak Hossain, a joint director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), pointed out that not all hope is lost. "Every other day, groups of people are heading to different tourist destinations, and the number of such trips isn't bad," he said. Capitalising on this growing demand for leisure travel could be a way forward for the struggling sector.