Staff Reporter :
Under a massive development plan, the government will dredge nine rivers and fix their boundary in the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts [CHT] with a view to increasing connectivity along with multiplying trade and commerce.
According to official sources, dredging would be conducted in the rivers Karnaphuli, Chengi, Maini, Sangu, Kachalong, Feni, Halda, Ichhamati and Matamuhuri to get back their navigability and bringing them in shape for vessel movement.
This is the first time the incumbent government has
taken decision to dredge the hilly rivers. Apart from expanding trade and commerce, the river dredging projects would also open a new sector for massive employment of local people, the officials said.
At the same time, the government also decided to construct three Land Ports -Tegamukh in Rangamati, Ghumdhum in Bandarban and Ramgarh in Khagrachhari districts – to intensify business with the neighbouring countries. The World Bank after conducting feasibility study has given approval to construct Land Ports in these three hill districts.
With the construction of the three Land Ports, the total number of land ports in the country would stand at 23. Especially, the CHT land ports will check trans-border smuggling and increase revenue volume through collecting duty and other charges, they said.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Sunday said: “A decision was taken to fix the boundaries of the rivers in the three districts while the National River Commission will work for it.”
He made the disclosure after a meeting where Chairman of the CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Zila Parishad chairmen of the three hill districts, State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing and high officials concerned, among others, were present.
“We unanimously took decision to dredge the rivers. To bring back the navigability, there is no alternative but to dredging those. For that reason, the necessary work will be initiated by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority [BIWTA]. Here, the Zila Parishad Chairman, CHT Regional Council Chairman and members will co-operate us,” Shajahan Khan said.
“To fix the method of river dredging, the government will sit in meetings with the local elected representatives of CHT. The National River Commission will also work to fix the boundaries of the rivers. The mud [after dredging] will be used to upgrade the river banks for further development works,” the Minister said.
Shajahan Khan said there are branches of some rivers and those would be brought under dredging programme. “If necessary, we’ll take help from Water Resources Ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government is very eager to start construction work of Ramgarh -Sabroom land port as soon as possible where both chairmen of CHT Regional Council and Khagrachhari District Council gave their consent. It is important to increase trade with India’s Tripura state [through Sabroom], the officials said.
On the other hand, Ghumdum land port will connect Tumbroo of Myanmar and Tegamukh will connect Demagri of Mizoram [India], they added.
“At present, the border trade is going on through the bordering points illegally without paying any duty and taxes. If the land ports would start working, the country would get a large amount of revenue,” the Minister said.
Under a massive development plan, the government will dredge nine rivers and fix their boundary in the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts [CHT] with a view to increasing connectivity along with multiplying trade and commerce.
According to official sources, dredging would be conducted in the rivers Karnaphuli, Chengi, Maini, Sangu, Kachalong, Feni, Halda, Ichhamati and Matamuhuri to get back their navigability and bringing them in shape for vessel movement.
This is the first time the incumbent government has
taken decision to dredge the hilly rivers. Apart from expanding trade and commerce, the river dredging projects would also open a new sector for massive employment of local people, the officials said.
At the same time, the government also decided to construct three Land Ports -Tegamukh in Rangamati, Ghumdhum in Bandarban and Ramgarh in Khagrachhari districts – to intensify business with the neighbouring countries. The World Bank after conducting feasibility study has given approval to construct Land Ports in these three hill districts.
With the construction of the three Land Ports, the total number of land ports in the country would stand at 23. Especially, the CHT land ports will check trans-border smuggling and increase revenue volume through collecting duty and other charges, they said.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Sunday said: “A decision was taken to fix the boundaries of the rivers in the three districts while the National River Commission will work for it.”
He made the disclosure after a meeting where Chairman of the CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Zila Parishad chairmen of the three hill districts, State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing and high officials concerned, among others, were present.
“We unanimously took decision to dredge the rivers. To bring back the navigability, there is no alternative but to dredging those. For that reason, the necessary work will be initiated by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority [BIWTA]. Here, the Zila Parishad Chairman, CHT Regional Council Chairman and members will co-operate us,” Shajahan Khan said.
“To fix the method of river dredging, the government will sit in meetings with the local elected representatives of CHT. The National River Commission will also work to fix the boundaries of the rivers. The mud [after dredging] will be used to upgrade the river banks for further development works,” the Minister said.
Shajahan Khan said there are branches of some rivers and those would be brought under dredging programme. “If necessary, we’ll take help from Water Resources Ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government is very eager to start construction work of Ramgarh -Sabroom land port as soon as possible where both chairmen of CHT Regional Council and Khagrachhari District Council gave their consent. It is important to increase trade with India’s Tripura state [through Sabroom], the officials said.
On the other hand, Ghumdum land port will connect Tumbroo of Myanmar and Tegamukh will connect Demagri of Mizoram [India], they added.
“At present, the border trade is going on through the bordering points illegally without paying any duty and taxes. If the land ports would start working, the country would get a large amount of revenue,” the Minister said.
