The long-awaited ferry service on the Chattogram-Sandwip water route was inaugurated this morning, marking a new era of connectivity for Sandwip, an island upazila of Chattogram.

M Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, inaugurated the service at Bashbaria Ghat in Sitakunda upazila, Chattogram, at 8:30am.

He was joined by Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Water Resources; Farooq-e Azam, adviser to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief; Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education; and Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock.

The ferry carrying the advisers set sail for Sandwip at 9:00am, reaching Guptachara Ghat at 10:55am.

The launch marks the country's first-ever ferry journey via a sea route.

Locals expressed hope that the service would ease transport challenges for Sandwip's four lakh residents.