For the first time in Bangladesh, a ferry service has been launched on the Chattogram-Sandwip sea route, marking a significant milestone for the people of Sandwip, a remote island with over 400,000 residents.
This new ferry service will connect the island directly to the mainland, fulfilling a long-held dream of the islanders who have faced considerable challenges in traveling to and from the mainland.
The ferry service was inaugurated at the newly constructed ferry terminal in Bashbaria, Sitakunda, on Monday, March 24, at around 8:30 AM.
M. Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, was present as the chief guest at the opening ceremony.
A host of other dignitaries attended the event, including Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources; Faruk E Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Advisor to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education; and Farida Akhter, Advisor to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.
Special assistants to the Chief Advisor, Khoda Bux Chowdhury and Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman, who hold the rank of state ministers, also joined the event.
Following the ceremony, at around 9 AM, the ferry set off from Bashbaria with the six advisors and other officials on board, making its way towards Sandwip.
After an hour-long journey, the ferry reached Sandwip at approximately 10 AM, bringing a sense of joy and relief to the islanders who had long awaited such a direct connection with the mainland.
This newly established ferry route is expected to significantly improve transportation and communication between Sandwip and the rest of the country.
The Ministry of Shipping has played a key role in making this dream a reality, with the ferry service now operational between Bashbaria in Sitakunda and Guptachara in Sandwip.
To celebrate the occasion, a special assembly was held at the Sandwip Upazila Parishad grounds at 11 AM, where the Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, addressed the gathering virtually as the chief guest.
The inauguration of this ferry service marks a new era for the residents of Sandwip, who can now access the mainland with greater ease, enhancing both economic opportunities and quality of life for the island`s population.
