Fuel crisis threatens water taxi shutdown
The Hatirjheel water taxi service in the capital is facing the risk of a complete shutdown as the ongoing fuel crisis begins to hit the alternative transport system, operators said.
Since Eid-ul-Fitr, trips have been reduced to conserve fuel, with nearly 50 percent of trips already suspended. Passengers are now facing long waits, increasing their hardship.
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According to authorities, around 10,000 to 15,000 passengers use the service daily, many of whom rely on it to avoid road congestion. However, uncertainty is growing as fuel shortages persist.
Operators warned that if the fuel supply is not restored soon, even the reduced services may be halted.
Among 15 boats of the water taxi service, 12 to 13 usually operate on four routes -- FDC, Rampura Bridge, Gudaraghat, and Police Plaza.
Among them, three large vessels can carry up to 215 passengers, but not all boats are running regularly due to fuel constraints, disrupting schedules.
During a visit to FDC and Rampura ghats on Sunday afternoon, four boats were seen lying idle. Only three boats were operating between FDC and Rampura, while two were running on the Police Plaza–Gulshan route. Passenger numbers were also lower than usual.
Many passengers expressed frustration as boats did not depart even long after ticket sales. Many were seen leaving the ghats to seek alternative transport.
Ripa Chakma, a regular passenger from Middle Badda, said, “The boat does not leave unless there are at least 15 passengers. I have been waiting for 45 minutes. I will stop using this service after today.”
Another passenger, Emon Mia, a student of Tejgaon Government College, said delays have worsened since Eid.
“Earlier, taxis left with five to six passengers. Now we wait around 30 minutes. Even if there are 12 passengers on board, the operators keep waiting,” he said.
Authorities said boats are being operated under a rationing system to cope with the fuel shortage. Each vehicle requires about 30 litres of diesel daily, but currently receives only 15 to 20 litres, allowing operations for about four hours. At least five litres must be kept in reserve to avoid engine damage.
During peak hours between 7:00am and 11:30am, 11 boats operate. Services are then reduced to three or four boats around noon to conserve fuel, before increasing again after 4:00pm.
Talking to this correspondent, FDC ghat ticket checker Saiful Islam said the company is not receiving adequate fuel service. Four taxis are out of service, while the rest operate mainly during peak hours.
Water Taxi JT In-Charge Md Joynal Abedin said daily fuel demand is around 350 to 400 litres, but only about 200 litres are currently supplied.
“Trips are being reduced due to the shortage. If the situation continues, we may have to shut down, as we don’t have a reserve,” he said.
“We have reduced trips between 11:30am and 4:00pm to save fuel. However, we are trying to maintain services during morning and afternoon peak hours,” he added.
Operated by Karim Group under Rajuk supervision, the service has been running for 10 years.
Morshedul Alam, manager (operations) of the company, said they have never faced such a crisis before.
“We are operating only about 50 percent of services. We are prioritising peak hours to minimise inconveniences for officegoers. During other times, boats are not operated unless there are 15 to 25 passengers.”
“Unlike before, we can no longer run boats with fewer passengers. We have no fuel reserve. Whatever diesel we receive is used the same day,” he added.
He added that sales have dropped by around 50 percent, making it difficult to sustain operations. “If diesel supply stops completely, we will have no option but to shut down.”
Launched on December 16, 2016, under the Hatirjheel Integrated Development Project, the service became popular among commuters from Badda, Rampura, and Gulshan as an alternative to congested roads.
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