The long-awaited ferry service on the Banshbaria (Sitakunda)-Guptachhara-Sandwip route officially commenced on Monday, marking a significant milestone in improving connectivity and boosting economic opportunities for Sandwip residents.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the service, with the first ferry departing from Banshbaria Ferry Ghat in Sitakunda Upazila toward Guptachara in Sandwip.
The event was attended by Adviser to the Ministries of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy, and Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar, alongside government officials and media representatives.
Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus also addressed the people of Sandwip via video conference.
According to Md Kamruzzaman, Deputy Director of BIWTA Chittagong, each ferry can accommodate up to 35 vehicles and 600 passengers. The service will operate four times a day, depending on the tides, with the journey from Chittagong to Sandwip taking approximately one hour and 10 minutes.
In addition to the ferry service, a BRTC bus service has been introduced on the Dhaka-Sandwip route, while an AC bus service is now running on the Chattogram Airport-Sea Beach-Nimtala-Banshbaria Ferry Ghat-Sandwip Enam Nahar More route, offering improved transportation options for residents.
Fares for the ferry service are as follows:
General passengers: Tk100
Motorcycles: Tk200
CNG auto-rickshaws: Tk500
Private cars: Tk900
Buses: Tk3,300
Trucks: Tk3,350
10-wheelers: Tk7,100
The launch of this ferry service fulfills a long-cherished dream for Sandwip residents, significantly enhancing mobility, boosting economic activities, and improving overall quality of life. The new route facilitates smooth transportation of various vehicles, including buses, trucks, tank lorries, minibuses, and private cars.
Additionally, the improved connectivity is expected to enhance Sandwip’s tourism sector by attracting more visitors to the island.
