Ferry service resumes on Brahmaputra River in Kurigram after 4 months
Kurigram Correspondent
After a suspension of 4 months and 11 days, ferry service on the Chilmari-Roumari water route in Kurigram has resumed.
The confirmation came from Profullo Chouhan, Commercial Manager of Chilmari Ferry Service, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).
He said that ferry operations were halted on December 23 last year due to navigability issues. As a result, ferries Kunjalata and Kadom had been stranded at Roumari Ghat. With the recent rise in water levels of the Brahmaputra River, the route became navigable again. As of Saturday (May 3), the ferries have been prepared to resume service and will depart from Roumari to Chilmari once vehicles are available.
The announcement has sparked excitement among transport workers and vehicle owners in the region. Local businessman Haidar Ali expressed joy, saying the reopening of the ferry is great news — now goods won’t need to be transported through longer detours, enabling faster and more efficient trade.
Rahmat Ali, a truck driver from Bhurungamari’s Sonahat land port, noted that due to the ferry suspension, trucks loaded with stones had to travel long distances. The ferry’s reopening will now save time and cost.
Kamruzzaman, Sub-Assistant Engineer of BIWTA’s Kurigram region, said the ferry had been closed due to the lack of navigable depth. About 26 kilometers of the route were dredged, and with the rise in water levels, the conditions are now suitable for ferry movement.
