For the first time, a ferry has begun operating between the island upazila of Sandwip and the mainland in Chittagong. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) launched a trial ferry service named ‘Kopotakkho’ to establish this crucial connection.
The experimental ferry service began on Wednesday, March 19, from Bashbaria in Sitakunda to Guptachhara Ghat in Sandwip.
It is expected that the official inauguration of the ferry route will take place on March 24. The 18-kilometer sea route between Sitakunda and Sandwip has long been in demand as an important transportation link. The initiative for the ferry service in Sandwip was first proposed in 2022, and after political changes, the project gained momentum.
The ‘Kopotakkho’ ferry can carry 33 to 40 small vehicles, 12 to 15 trucks, and 12 buses. However, decisions regarding the inclusion of motorcycles are still pending. The ferry will operate twice a day, with the schedule adjusted according to tidal conditions.
