The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) under the Shipping Ministry has undertaken a plan to construct eight new sea trucks to operate those in the coastal and island regions.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan disclosed this in parliament on Thursday in reply to a question raised by treasury bench member Md Tazul Islam (Comilla-9). He said a project titled “the 35 commercial vessels procurement and two new slipway construction” was undertaken to this effect at an estimated cost of Taka 1040.40 crore. It would infuse dynamism into the commercial service of the BIWTC and raise its services.
“The approval for the project is under process, while the activities for procuring the eight sea trucks have been included in the scheme,” he said adding that the construction work of the sea trucks would complete within two years after the approval of the project.
Responding to another question raised by independent lawmaker Md Rustam Ali Farazi, the shipping minister said permission has been given to “Sohoj Limited”, a private firm, to sell tickets for the ships of the BIWTC rocket service for one year on experimental basis as per a decision of the ministry. “The approval has been given so that the passengers of the ships can get tickets online easily and to introduce digital system announced by the government,” he said.
Shajahan Khan said Sohoj Limited has been tasked to sell tickets under the policy approved by the BIWTC board, adding the BIWTC entered the digital system due to the introduction of this system.
“There is no profit or loss of the BIWTC in this system. However, the common passengers at home can enjoy facilities of buying tickets online,” he added.
