MV Bangali, the newly introduced triple-deck passenger steamer on Dhaka-Barisal route via Chandpur, has been taken back to the dockyard for repair work after serving passengers for only 10 days.
The vessel has been placed to BIWTC dockyard for long-term repairing and renovation on April 27, said Nurul Alam, deputy general manager of BIWTC.
Ziaul Islam, director of the vessel construction project, told the Dhaka Tribune that the vessel sent to dockyard for complete repairing and renovations.
As per the new plan, the authority decided to unfold the deck space for the passing of air, change the chair seats and set up comfortable sofa-seats and install air-cooler in second class cabins, he added.
Seeking anonymity, a BIWTC official said the steamer has been sent back to dockyard for renovation as it failed to attract the passengers.
He further said the vessel was incurring losses constantly. The fuel costing for a Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka round trip was around Tk2.5 lakhs. Besides, the maintenance cost was Tk500,000.
In last 10 round trips, it never succeeded to collect two-third money of the operating cost, Khalid Newaz and Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general managers of BIWTC said.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation has build the steamer at the cost of Tk26.8 crore.
The newly constructed vessel faced mechanical trouble after inaugurated by shipping minister Shahjahan Khan on the first trip and sent to the dockyard for repairing.
After repairing, the vessel has resumed its direct service on Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route, avoiding Chandpur route.
Under a Tk51.23 crore project, BIWTC was set to construct two vessels to mitigate the sufferings of the people of riverine southern region.
The 75.5-metre long and 12.5-metre wide MV Bangali constructed in 16 months as per classical British design costs Tk 26.8 crore by Western Marine Shipyard Limited.
Another steamer, MV Madhumoti, is under construction at the cost of rest Tk 24.43 crore by the same shipyard and it would be introduced on Dhaka-Barisal route in June.
MV Bangali was commissioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on a trip to Dhaka-Mohonpur of Chandpur-Dhaka March 29.
The vessel started plying on Dhaka-Chandpur Barisal route from Dhaka Sadar Ghat on every Thursday, Saturday and Monday and Barisal Steamar Ghat on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday at 8:30 pm since April 11.
