Cox’s Bazar Correspondent: At least 10,000 passengers travel daily on the Cox’s Bazar-Moheshkhali river route. More than 2,000 tourists are traveling in excess during the current tourist season. But such a public-important river route is now without guardians. The suffering of passengers and tourists is increasing due to mismanagement.
Although Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali are under the control of the two municipalities, this river route is under someone’s control. As a result, extreme mismanagement prevails at Cox’s Bazar No. 6 Ghat and Gorakhata Jetty Ghat. This includes collecting additional fare from tourists in the name of reserves, various harassments of ordinary passengers, chaos, mistreatment of passengers by drivers, and even physical assaults. Tourists are returning with bitter experiences while visiting Maheshkhali during this peak tourist season. The people concerned said that before the uprising, the fare for speedboats on this route was 110 taka per person, and for wooden boats, it was 40 taka per person. The district administration used to collect 10 taka out of 110 taka for speedboats and 5 taka out of 40 taka for wooden boats. That money was later allocated for the development of the two municipalities. After the uprising, students against discrimination took up the movement demanding a reduction in fares and various forms of harassment of passengers. In view of this, the fare was reduced to 90 taka for speedboats and 30 taka for wooden boats. This completely stopped the khas collection by the district administration. Therefore, the district administration employees appointed for the maintenance of the ghat were removed. As a result, the fare was reduced, and the transportation system became beset with mismanagement due to a lack of guardians.
However, the speedboat owners’ association said that since the district administration removed their people, maintenance people were appointed by the boat owners. Passengers have complained that the employees appointed by the boat owners do not perform their duties as strictly as the previously appointed district administration employees used to perform their duties. Even though there is chaos, they do not play a responsible role. Since they are employees of the boat owners, they do not take effective action against the drivers. There is no doubt that in most cases they cannot be strict in maintaining law and order due to fear. An employee employed on condition of anonymity said that if strict action is taken against the mismanagement of the drivers, including harassment of passengers, the drivers threaten; they even want to beat them up.
On Monday, it was seen on the spot that there is no discipline at the Gorakhta-2 ghats at No. 6 on the Kangbazar end and the Maheshkhali end. There is a competition over who will board the boat first. In the meantime, unscrupulous drivers are taking extra fares and ferrying passengers as they wish in the name of reserves. Tourists are being financially affected by this. On the other hand, local people are being harassed by not getting boats. However, the employees in charge have been seen in a helpless, silent role.
When asked at this time, some of the tourists said that they would pay extra money to cross the river on the reserve speedboat. Locals said that speedboat drivers do not take local passengers on boats to collect extra money from tourists.
Abdul Majid, a tourist from Dhaka, said that the hustle and bustle of the ghat was very bad. There was an extreme risk of falling into the water. Due to so much suffering, he has to return with a bitter experience.
Abdur Rashid, a local passenger from Maheshkhali, said that I have to go to the city of Kangbazar regularly for cases and various necessary work. But due to the mismanagement of the ghat, on the one hand, time is being wasted, and on the other hand, I am facing endless suffering.
When asked about this, Ataullah Bokhari, president of the Speedboat Owners Association, said that five people are deployed on both sides around the clock to control the ghat. There is currently a little problem due to the pressure of tourists. It will return to normal later.
Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, deputy director of the Kangbazar Local Government Department and administrator of Kangbazar Municipality, said that a meeting has already been held with the coordinators regarding the harassment at the ghat. Some decisions were taken in the meeting to prevent harassment. They will be implemented soon.
