Sandwip Cut Off From Mainland for Five Days
Collected Photo
Sandwip, an island upazila in Chattogram, has remained cut off from the mainland for five consecutive days after rough seas in the Bay of Bengal forced authorities to suspend all water transport services.
All ferry operations on the Banshbaria–Guptachhara route, along with every other passenger and cargo vessel connecting the island to the mainland, have been suspended since July 2 due to adverse weather triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
The prolonged disruption has left thousands of passengers, transport workers, and cargo vehicles stranded, while normal life on the island has been severely affected.
More than a hundred passenger and freight vehicles remain stranded at the Kumira and Guptachhara ferry terminals. Truck operators are increasingly concerned that perishable goods could spoil as the shutdown continues.
Drivers and transport workers are also facing mounting hardship because of inadequate facilities, including limited access to accommodation, sanitation, and bathing areas at the ferry terminals.
Ferry Services to Remain Suspended
Nayan Shil, deputy director (Port and Transport) of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said all water transport services would remain suspended until weather conditions improve.
“When the sea becomes extremely rough, Local Warning Signal No. 3 remains in effect. For the safety of passengers, all vessels operating on sea routes have been suspended. The restriction will remain until the warning signal is withdrawn,” he said.
Shil added that speedboats and trawlers operated on a limited basis on the Kumira-Guptachhara route on Thursday and Friday, but those services were also suspended after weather conditions deteriorated further.
Residents said the suspension of water transport has brought daily life on the island to a standstill.
Emergency patients, migrant workers traveling abroad, businesspeople, office workers, and students have been among the hardest hit. Following the weekend, many public and private sector employees were unable to return to their workplaces, while several overseas-bound passengers reportedly missed their international flights after failing to leave the island on time.
Sandwip Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Amzad Hossain said authorities had no alternative but to suspend water transport due to the dangerous weather.
“We are making every effort to provide the highest possible level of medical care to emergency patients at the Upazila Health Complex,” he said.
Warning Signal No. 3 Remains in Effect
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the seasonal low-pressure system over Odisha and adjoining southern Jharkhand has weakened into a well-marked low. However, its influence continues to generate squally weather over the northern Bay of Bengal and adjacent coastal areas.
As a result, Local Warning Signal No. 3 remains in force for the seaports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla, and Payra.
The weather agency has also advised all fishing boats and trawlers operating in the northern Bay of Bengal to remain close to the coast and navigate with caution.
Authorities said ferry and other water transport services to Sandwip cannot resume until sea conditions improve. No timeline has yet been given for when operations will return to normal.
