The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Number of passenger launches is maximum in Barisal. This river port stands 2nd in numbers, 5th in earning revenue but stands at a poor ninth position out of eleven river ports of the country in carrying goods and merchandise. This poor position in carrying heavy goods, machineries and merchandise indicates very poor condition of the river port. There is no container terminal which has reduced goods carrying capacity of the river port . Moreover, the jetty and the pontoons underneath are fragile and weak for loading and unloading of heavy goods, machineries and merchandise. This is learnt from a source of BIWTA river port.

On 9th September of 1960 six river ports including Barisal were established in the then East Pakistan. However long before that river port was built here in 1880 by Indian General Navigation Company on Barisal Assam Barisal, Khulna and Barisal Calcutta steamer service route. But with passage of time Barisal river port has lost its importance and though river port at Mongla and Dhaka have been highly developed Barisal river port has received little attention from the authorities a result neither container terminal has been built nor proper jetty has been built. Barisal does not have any railway connection and hence heavy machineries and merchandise can suitably be brought only by river route. But without container terminal and well built jetty this task cannot be performed. The present situation, if continues Barisal river port will soon lose its importance.