Sea truck launched on Cox's Bazar-Maheshkhali route on pilot basis
According to BIWTA authorities, the experimental operation will continue till 24 April before a permanent operation is launched
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has begun operating a sea truck on the Cox's Bazar-Maheshkhali route on a pilot basis today (18 April).
The sea truck, with a capacity to carry 250 passengers, is expected to ease the commute for 4 lakh inhabitants of Maheshkhali island and tourists visiting the place, speeding up the economy of the island, BIWTA authorities hopes.
According to BIWTA authorities, the sea truck will ply on this route on a pilot basis till 24 April.
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The sea truck will be operated permanently from 25 April if no problem arises during the experimental period, BIWTA authorities said.
AKM Arif Uddin, director of BIWTA, said, "The fare for using the sea truck has not been fixed yet. Besides operating the sea truck permanently, we have a plan to operate ferries on this route in the future."
Mokbul Ahmed, a researcher and writer, said, "The inhabitants of Maheshkhali island and the tourists visiting the place had to face various problems, including long queues for speedboats, threat of accidents at the confluence of Bakkhali river during monsoon and collection of extra fares at the jetty ghat without any slips."
"BIWTA has come forward to solve these problems. The sea truck will be beneficial for the inhabitants of the island," Mokbul said.
The people of the island expressed immense joy at seeing the sea truck arrive at the jetty ghat at 1pm, which left the BIWTA jetty ghat at Cox's Bazar town at 12:20pm, our correspondent reported.
Meanwhile, the conscious citizens of the island have thanked BIWTA for launching sea truck operation, which was a long-awaited demand of the residents of Maheshkhali.
According to these citizens, they were kept hostage by a syndicate for a long time. Operation of the sea truck will free them from the pain and thuggery.
The sea truck will also give pace to the economy of the island and expand tourism there, the concerned citizens hoped.
