Fuel Crisis: Speedboat Services Suspended on Kaptai Lake

Passenger speedboat services on Kaptai Lake in Rangamati have once again been suspended due to a severe fuel shortage, causing suffering for commuters.

From Tuesday morning, drivers stopped operating speedboats on routes to Longadu, Baghaichhari, Jurachhari, Barkal, and Bilaichhari upazilas. Earlier, on March 15, speedboat services were suspended for one day due to a fuel shortage.

Drivers said they were forced to halt operations as they could not obtain sufficient fuel from pumps. Meanwhile, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said efforts are underway to resolve the fuel crisis.

Mohammad Siddiq, a speedboat driver at Fishery Ghat in the town, said, “A boat needs about 35 liters of petrol to travel 70 kilometers from Rangamati to Longadu.

“But the pumps provide only 10 liters. It is not possible to operate speedboats with that. So we have been forced to stop running the boats.”

Mohammad Shukkur Ali, a resident of Longadu upazila, said, “On Monday evening, when my sister-in-law faced complications during delivery, she was referred from the Upazila Health Complex to Rangamati General Hospital. But when we reached the ghat, we learned that speedboat services were suspended due to the fuel shortage.

“Later, we managed to get 20 liters of fuel from the army and reached Rangamati town around 10 pm in a small speedboat. From Rangamati General Hospital, the patient was taken to a private hospital in Chattogram, where surgery was performed. However, the baby was found dead. The patient is currently in critical condition.”

He added, “For those of us who travel on Kaptai Lake, speedboats are an important means of transport in emergencies. If this service remains suspended due to fuel shortages, our suffering will increase. At least a limited number of speedboats should remain operational for emergency needs.”

Mohammad Mahiuddin, a lineman at Rangamati Fishery Ghat, said that 15 to 20 speedboats usually operate daily on different routes from Rangamati. However, due to the fuel shortage, operations have again been suspended since morning. The amount of fuel supplied by pumps is insufficient to run speedboats.

Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi said efforts are ongoing to resolve the fuel shortage. She expressed hope that launch and speedboat services would not remain suspended due to the crisis.

Earlier, on March 15, speedboat services on Kaptai Lake were suspended for one day due to the fuel shortage. Although services resumed the next day with administrative support, they have again been halted after 15 days for the same reason.