kilometer stretch of the Kutubdia

-Magnama Channel in Cox's Bazar without life jackets, risking their lives. People from Kutubdia and Pekua are crossing the rough sea with extra passengers in Dennis boats.

Although boat traffic was suspended across the country during the cyclone's impact, it was not allowed in the Kutubdia-Magnama Channel. This could have caused a major accident at any time.

It has been found that every

year for the Bangla Year, this ghat at the Magnama-Kutubdia Channel crossing is leased. But since the lease was not granted this year, the Khas collection money is being withdrawn under the joint control of the Kutubdia and Pekua Upazila Executive Officers. More than one lakh taka of Khas collection money is withdrawn daily at this ghat. The Upazila administration has kept Dennis boats operating in the rough sea without thinking about the risk to people's lives to withdraw the money. However, no life jackets have been provided.

It can be seen on the ground

that the sea is rough due to drizzle and gusty winds. The Meteorological Department had ordered the suspension of boat traffic across the country by displaying warning signal number 3. But the passenger Dennis boats continued to operate in this channel, disobeying the order. There was no rescue team from the administration to rescue them in case of an accident midway. Small Dennis boats are moving through the rough sea waves with a full load of passengers. One Dennis boat has 10 to 15 life jackets, which are also not usable. All other Dennis boats do not have any kind of life jackets. There is no supervision team from the upazila administration on either side. However, the Kutubdia Upazila Nirbahi Officer has assigned two people to keep track of the withdrawal of Khas Collection money.