The scene of two brides fighting with one husband is seen in the movie. Something that sometimes happens in reality. But this is the first time that the two organizations are struggling with a ghat! Kumira-Guptachara Ghat is the main seaway connecting Sandwip upazila, an isolated island in the heart of the Bay of Bengal, with mainland Sitakunda. Two government organizations, Zilla Parishad and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), are involved in a dispute over the ownership of that ghat.
From the beginning, the Zilla Parishad was managing this ghat as the owner. But a decade ago, BIWTA suddenly claimed the ownership of this ghat. The issue of conflict between the two parties is even brought up to the court. The BIWTA authorities became 'silent' when the court ruled in favor of the Zilla Parishad. But after breaking the silence in 2023, BIWTA once again took possession of the ghat. Now along with the Zilla Parishad they are also claiming the ownership of the ghat and giving lease.
Although Zilla Parishad and BIWTA are busy 'honey extracting' through leases, the two organizations are not doing anything visible for the development of the ghat. As a result, anger fell on the service. Harassment of Sandwip residents is also extreme. The two lessees are in trouble even though there is no conflict between them as they have been working together. Because the two companies are taking the revenue, there is pressure on the lessees. And that pressure has also affected the passengers.
BIWTA's 'illegal' intervention!:
Zila Parishad: Kumira-Guptachara Ghat was managed by the organization for ages. But BIWTA authority Ghat in 2012. A dispute started when a man named Abul Kasem Raja was leased. A writ number 11517/2013 was filed in the High Court Division regarding the matter where the judgment was given in favor of the Chattogram Zilla Parishad. Not only BIWTA, but also Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) demanded control of the ghat at one point. Similarly, Civil Petition Nos. 2723/2012 and 2722/2012 were filed in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, the service also gave final judgment in favor of Chattogram Zilla Parishad. There is no opportunity for BIWTA or BIWTC to interfere with the said ghat due to the judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the Chattogram Zilla Parishad regarding the ownership and management of the ghat. After the verdict, BIWTC withdrew from ownership of the wharf, but BIWTA-claimed ownership and issued a lease notice.
The fresh conflict between Zilla Parishad and BIWTA started mainly in 2021. In 2013, when a conflict arose between the BIWTA and the Zilla Parishad over the lease of the Kumira-Guptachara Ghat, on March 9, 2014, at the initiative of the then Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, a meeting was held in the presence of two local MPs (Chattogram 3 and Chattogram 4), representatives of the BIWTA and the Zilla Parishad-Chattogram. The meeting took place. According to the decision of that meeting, on December 2, 2014, a 6-year agreement was reached with BIWTA and Zilla Parishad on the management of Kumira-Guptachara Ferry Ghat. According to the agreement, the entire lease management of this ghat will be managed by the Zilla Parishad.
After the expiry of the agreement period, Zila Parishad did not want to enter into a new compromise agreement and BIWTA sat down. The argument of the organization was that in 2020, the government declared the entire area from Feni to Patenga as a naval port through a notification. Besides, BIWTA is also given the responsibility of managing the seaports. BIWTA wants to operate the wharf under that Act. Although the court's verdict was in favor of the Zilla Parishad, which has been running for ages.
Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Shabbir Iqbal alleged that BIWTA is interfering illegally despite the court order. He said, 'BIWTA and BIWTC are obstructing the Zilla Parishad in the proper management of the ghat due to the conspiracy of some interested parties. There is a judgment of the full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court that the ghat belongs to Chattogram Zilla Parishad. Such a judgment of the Appellate Division is not open to anyone else to claim ownership. Unwanted interference by BIWTA, BIWTC or any other party during the management of the ghat by the Zilla Parishad with the consent of all parties is not only a violation of the law, but also an unwanted obstacle to the improvement of the environment and passenger service of the ghat. Shabbir Iqbal seeks the cooperation of all parties in managing the ghat properly.
However, Deputy Director of BIWTA-Chattogram Division. Kamruzzaman said, "The government has identified the area as a naval port. Because of this, no one else has the opportunity to dominate this ghat. That's why we have been managing since the financial year 2023-24.
Presently the lessee of Zilla Parishad is M/s Adil Enterprises. The owner of this company is Azmain Adil Chowdhury. The Zilla Parishad has to pay Rs 93,500 per day including VAT as lease to the institution. On the other hand BIWTA has M/s RK Enterprise as its lessee. The owner of the company. BIWTA has to pay approximately Tk 82 lakh including VAT as lease to Jaglul Hossain Nayan.
Suffering Islanders:
The islanders are suffering the most from the tug of war between two organizations over a ghat. A ghat is leased by two parties for a large amount of money, but no one is working to develop the ghat. As a result, the sea route from Sandwip to Chittagong is waiting for the passengers to suffer. To get rid of this suffering, the government constructed two jetties at a cost of 25 crores. Neither of these two jetties constructed through BIWTA have brought the expected benefits to the people of Sandwip. A part of the jetty built in the Guptachara part of Sandwip collapsed five months after its inauguration in the head And Chittagong's Kumira broke into pieces in May 2022. In just 10 years, the sufferings of the two jetties have increased. Although there is a jetty, passengers have to wade through waist-deep water and mud to reach the shore during low tide. The passengers who came on the ship were also brought down in waist-deep water by 'red boat'. Children, elderly, women and sick patients are fluctuating with extreme risk. Not only that, if the weather changes, the life of the people of the island will come to a standstill. The people of Sandwip hope that the dispute between the two organizations will be resolved soon. Then as the suffering in their journey will be reduced, the suffering will also be removed.
