Around 5,000 people face hardships daily crossing the Karkhana River at Kheya Ghat in Barisal’s Bakerganj upazila.
In winter, as the river dries up, trawlers are unable to reach the ghat. This forces people to walk at least one kilometre through muddy paths to access boats or trawlers.
This is unlike during the rainy season, when the river's high water levels allow people to board trawlers from the shore.
Residents of around 50 villages, including those in Faridpur and Durgapasha union in Bakerganj upazila, face hardships crossing the River.
Residents of four unions in Bakerganj - Kobai, Dudhal, Dariyal and Faridpur - cross the Karkhana River via DC Road in Kobai union to reach the upazila. Residents of the neighbouring Bauphal upazila in Patuakhali also travel through Bakerganj to Barisal using this route, resulting in thousands commuting daily.
Motorcyclists wait at ghat during low tide
Long waits at the Karkhana River's DC Ghat are common due to the limited number of engine-powered trawlers. In winter, the river's channels dry up, preventing trawlers from reaching the ghat and causing people to wait at least four hours for the tide.
Resident Omar Faruq said: “There is a one-kilometre sandbar on the riverbank. During high tide, trawlers can reach the shore through small channels in this sandbar. When the tide is low, the trawlers cannot come to the ghat and people have to wade through the muddy sandbar to board the trawler. Those who have motorcycles have to waste time for high tide as they cannot cross the mud.”
A motorcycle rider said: "Almost every day, I need to take this route with my motorcycle for work. I have to wait for the high tide to load the motorcycle onto the boat, as the boat can not reach the shore during low tide. We are facing extreme hardship."
Residents demanding bridge for decades
Locals are frustrated as no action has been taken to build a bridge, despite having demanded one for decades to reduce their suffering.
A resident said: "The Karkhana is a very dangerous river. There is no end to our suffering here. We request the government to build a bridge, or if not possible, at least provide us with a ferry."
Another resident said: "We have voiced our demands to members, chairmen, mayors and MPs. But no one has taken any initiative to build a bridge to reduce our suffering."
Kabai Union Chairman Zahirul Haque Badal said: "A bridge over the Karkhana River is very much needed. It would allow safe travel for residents of Bakerganj and Bauphal at all times. But without the bridge, people from at least 50 villages are suffering."
LGED Upazila Engineer Abul Khayer Mia said: "Our efforts to construct a bridge over the Karkhana River are ongoing. We had proposals for the bridge in the past and are still striving to get the project approved."