Sending urea to N region may be tough this Boro season for poor navigability

Syful Islam | Published: December 09, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The country's northern districts will get 1.19 million tonnes of urea fertiliser this season which will be transported there during the December-January period through river routes, sources said.
The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) will create a buffer stock of urea fertiliser, targeting the upcoming Boro season, in warehouses located in the northern districts.
The fertiliser will be carried through river routes from Chittagong and Mongla ports to the warehouses.
According to the BCIC plan, some 335,000 tonnes of fertiliser will be carried in this December, 320,000 tonnes in January next, 310,000 tonnes in February, and 228,878 tonnes in March. Â
The BCIC recently requested the ministry of shipping (MoS) to carry out necessary dredging work in Paturia, Aricha, Kazirhat, Pechakhola, Nagarbari, and Baghabari river channels so that the fertiliser-laden vessels can ply the routes smoothly.
The BCIC contractors carry fertilisers by the river routes since this mode is financially viable and easier.
Usually, vessels travelling during the dry season --- November to March-through these river channels face disruption to movement due to poor navigability, which leads to a crisis of fertilisers in the peak season.
The BCIC has requested the MoS for steps so that at least 7 to 9-foot draught is available in these channels for plying of the vessels.Â Â Â Â
A senior MoS official told the FE that they would soon ask the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) for immediate steps, so that fertiliser transportation does not face any obstacle due to the lack of adequate navigability.
The government recently set a target of producing 18.91 million tonnes of rice in the coming Boro season, up by 20,000 tonnes from production in the previous years, for which timely availability of fertilisers is necessary, a senior BCIC official said.
BIWTA chairman Dr. Samsuddoha Kahndaker told the FE Sunday that necessary preparations are there to keep the routes smooth for plying of fertiliser and fuel oil-carrying vessels.
"The BIWTA conducts continued survey of the routes, and the dredgers are installed there, so that immediate measures can be taken if navigability is reduced during the dry season," he said.
Mr Kahndaker said since last year, night-time navigation facility has been introduced by installing necessary navigational aid and upon carrying out proper dredging. At the moment, vessels can ply the channels 24 hours a day.
"I do not think this year the vessels' plying will face any disruption. But if anything happens, we will be able to overcome the hazard immediately," he added.
He said during the last two years no major disruption to the plying of the vessels had occurred.