MANIKGANJ: A total of 36 vessels loaded with nearly 30 thousands tones of Muriate of Potash (MOP) are waiting for unloading at Paturia Ghat due to poor navigation of the Padma River as well as shortage of sacks.

Ship masters claimed that they know nothing how many days will be consumed to unload the fertilizer from vessels. When banglanews correspondent visited the jetty all vessels were seen anchored in queue there.

Surveyor Sarwar Hossain of Paruria Ghat told banglanews that some 31 ships from Chittagong and five others from Mongla, carrying MOP, are seen waiting for discharging the goods.

Each ship carries fertilizers weighing from 700 tones to 1200 tones, he added.

Sarwar went on saying that the ships are not going to their destinations due to poor navigability on the River in Paturia Ghat area.

Besides, unload becomes late as supply of fertilizer sacks is inadequate due to blockade and hartal, added the surveyor.

The unloaded MOP will be sent to Baghabari of Sirajganj, and Kazirhat and Nagarbari of Pabna. But the ships have been waiting for 20 to 25 days to unload cargos.

Afsar Hossain, master of anchored MV Al Insan, told banglanews that they have been waiting for discharging the fertilizer here since January 6.

“Some 11-feet navigation is need for water boats to ply on the Padma route, which is now 7 to 8 feet only” he added.

Conservancy and Pilotage department joint director Shajahan Hossen of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority told banglanews that there is 9-feet navigation on the route at this time.”

The director claimed that overloading of the ships was the main reason of facing problem in plying through the Padma.

Dredging is underway in Mollar Char area of Nagarbari to keep navigation normal in the Padma River, Shajahan informed.

BDST: 1038 HRS, JAN 29, 2015