On the muddy banks of the mighty Meghna River, the dream of a modern river port in Chandpur remains elusive, bogged down by delays, dwindling manpower, and fading hope.

Nearly a year after construction began on the Chandpur Modern River Port, progress remains painfully slow.

A recent visit to the site revealed a sleepy scene -- six or seven workers, a few scattered tools and a major infrastructure project that appears frozen in time.

Launch operations suspended in Chandpur for inclement weather

“It won’t be done this year, maybe not even by 2028,” remarked one local.

This sentiment is echoed by many others who have observed the project’s construction -- or rather, its stagnation -- over the past several months.

The Tk 100-crore project, financed by the World Bank and overseen by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), was initially scheduled for completion by August this year, according to the then BIWTA chairman, who spoke to journalists in May last year.

But, only 15 per cent of the work has been completed so far, according to BIWTA sources.

BIWTA’s current Chandpur Deputy Director, Md Bashir Ahmed, remains hopeful. “We’re trying our best. The deadline has been extended to December. After the original contractor, Toma Construction, fled to Canada during last year’s political transition,” he said.

The need for a modern terminal in Chandpur is not new.

For over a decade, more than 10,000 people, including women, children and the elderly, have used this launch ghat daily to travel to and from Dhaka, Narayanganj, and nearby districts such as Faridganj, Haimchar, Hajiganj and Raipur, the BIWTA sources said.

On festival days, this number increases significantly, with as many as 35 launches operating daily. Yet the existing facilities remain grossly inadequate.

There are no waiting areas, no drinking water, no toilets and no designated feeding corners for children. Passengers also suffer additional discomfort -- such as a gangway that lacks a canopy, leaving travellers soaked in the rain.

Besides, the chaos of makeshift shops congesting the surrounding roads adds to the misery, although recent efforts have cleared some of them.

Even the construction site itself raises concerns. Built on a vulnerable stretch of riverbank, the terminal stands precariously close to the Meghna, a river known for its powerful currents and unpredictable erosion.

Locals expressed their worry that the unfinished structure might one day be swallowed by the river before it even becomes operational.

Depression-induced rains disrupt life in Chandpur

Despite the slow progress, many residents continue to hope that this long-awaited port will eventually offer safe, comfortable, and dignified travel for the people of Chandpur. “We’ve engaged a subcontractor and asked him to speed up the work,” Bashir added.