Communications Minister Nazmul Huda is likely to announce introduction of the service in the 23 km route from Ilisha in Bhola to Maju Chowdhury Hat point in Laxmipur during his visit to Bhola tomorrow.

This will establish a risk-free road link between 12 southern districts and Chittagong and reduce the travel time to around eight hours from 18 hours now. This will also facilitate road communication from Mongla to Chittagong.

Selection of places for ferry pontoons and other installations at both ends are now at a final stage, they said. High officials of communication ministry and the Road & Highways (R&H) Department are holding hectic meetings now to finalise things, R&H Executive Engineer in Bhola Bulbul Islam told this correspondent yesterday.

Construction of the Barisal-Bhola-Laxmipur road was started during Jatiya Party rule. After the changeover, BNP government had continued the work. Awami League government constructed the road from Lahar Hat in Barisal to Bheduria in Bhola and introduced ferry service.

Now, people cross the mighty Meghna estuary by BIWTC sea truck or private launch.

Only one sea truck plies the route once a day. The government earlier banned small launches on the route during the season of storms from April to September after several disasters that claimed hundreds of lives.

In last five years, at least 450 people drowned in eight launch mishaps in the Meghna during April-September period.

The Daily Star published a report in April this year on the plight of passengers and the necessity of ferry service on the route.