Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: Due to the rough sea due to the effect of the monsoon, all types of shipping are closed on the Teknaf-Saint Martin alternative waterway. Meanwhile, around 300 people have been stranded from Saint Martin going to Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar for various jobs due to the suspension of boat traffic.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Adnan Chowdhury confirmed this information and said that due to the rough sea, boat traffic has been stopped to avoid accidents. Once the situation is normal, the navigation will resume.
According to the sources of Meteorological Department Cox’s Bazar, deep circulating clouds are forming in the North Bay of Bengal and coastal areas under the influence of monsoons. Due to its effect, gale force winds may blow over the coastal areas of Bangladesh, the North Bay of Bengal, and seaports.
Local warning signal No. 3 has been asked to be displayed in some seaports, including Cox’s Bazar, in the emerging situation. Besides, fishing boats and trawlers stationed in the North Bay of Bengal have been asked to move cautiously close to the coast until further notice.
According to local administration officials and boat workers, the regular shipping route from Teknaf to Saint Martin has been closed since June 8 due to the conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
On June 5 and 8, the Naikxyongdia area of the waterway was closed after firing at trawlers and speedboats from the Myanmar border.
No one was injured in the firing, but seven trawlers were hit. After the closure of the regular waterway, the Golgara area of Badarmokam on the coastal Shahpari island was allowed to pass through.
Abdur Rashid, president of the Teknaf-Saint Martin Service Trawler Owners Association, said that the sea is always rough on the alternative route. Due to which navigation is very dangerous. However, the passage of ships brought some relief to the inhabitants of St. Martin.
Due to adverse weather conditions, navigation on the alternative route has also been suspended since last Thursday morning. 47 service trawlers operate in this waterway. Where more than one and a half hundred midshipmen are engaged. Service trawler owners and midshipmen will be in trouble if the regular waterway is not normalized before the next tourist season begins.
Chairman of Saint Martin Union Parishad Mujibur Rahman said that since Thursday night, rain and gusty wind have been blowing in Saint Martin. If the movement of service trawlers is not normalized soon, the inhabitants of St. Martin will face a food crisis. Besides, at least 300 residents who went to work in Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar from Saint Martin are trapped there.
Meanwhile, many fishermen have stopped fishing due to rough seas. Hundreds of boats are lined up on the coast of Teknaf in safe shelter. Now is the season of Hilsa. However, due to the warning signal, it is not possible to go fishing in the sea.
District Fisheries Officer. Badruddoza said that fishing has stopped due to rough weather. However, from October 13 to November 3, fishing and sales will be completely closed in rivers and seas for 22 days as Hilsa breeding season.
