Sea-truck operations on the Kutubdia Boro Ghop-Magnama route in Cox’s Bazar have remained suspended for five days after a pontoon at Boro Ghop jetty was damaged. Published information on August 1 said the sea-truck cannot berth at the jetty, halting passenger crossings. Authorities have not specified when the service will return to normal, prompting frustration among passengers.

Three pillars of the pontoon, installed only six months ago, have broken, disrupting safe crossings. Old Danish boats and speedboats are still operating at the ghat, but passengers considered the sea-truck a comparatively safer means of transport. Passengers Shawkat Osman and Rezaul Karim expressed anger over the suspension during the monsoon season after finding the vessel anchored in the channel.

ST Nijhum Dwip master Ekramuzzaman said passenger service could resume once the pontoon is repaired. A BIWTA engineering team inspected the damaged facility last Thursday, and repair equipment is expected within one or two days. BIWTA said repairs may take one to two months, while the Kutubdia UNO said officials would discuss possible alternative sea-truck arrangements with the leaseholder.