The long-awaited ferry service on the Banshbaria (Sitakunda)-Guptachhara-Sandwip route was launched on Monday, ushering in a new era of improved connectivity and economic opportunities for Sandwip’s residents.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain inaugurated the service.
The first ferry officially departed from Banshbaria Ferry Ghat in Sitakunda Upazila, heading towards Guptachara in Sandwip.
Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus also addressed the people of Sandwip via video conference.
Md Kamruzzaman, deputy director of BIWTA Chittagong, said that each ferry can transport 35 vehicles and 600 passengers at a time.
The ferry will operate four times a day, depending on the tides, with the journey from Chittagong to Sandwip taking just one hour and 10 minutes.
In addition to the ferry service, a BRTC bus service has been launched on the Dhaka-Sandwip route.
An AC bus service has also started operating on the Chittagong Airport-C Beach-Nimtala-Banshbaria Ferry Ghat-Sandwip Enam Nahar More route.
These services will provide the people of Sandwip with easier connections to the capital and other parts of the country.
The fares for ferry travel are as follows: General passengers will pay Tk100, motorcycles will be charged Tk200, CNG auto rickshaws will pay Tk500, private cars will be charged Tk900, buses will pay Tk3,300, trucks will pay Tk3,350 and 10-wheelers will be charged Tk7,100.
The launch of the ferry service fulfilled a long-cherished dream of Sandwip residents, significantly improving their quality of life and boosting economic activities.
The new route will allow the smooth movement of all types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, tank lorries, minibuses and private cars.
Besides, the service is expected to enhance Sandwip’s tourism sector, attracting more visitors to the island.
