BSS, Dhaka :
The government has initiated a process to procure some 35 dredgers involving Taka 4,489.03 crore to keep up navigability on 100 major naval routes.
“The Planning Commission by now reviewed a draft proposal on the project, expected to be discussed tomorrow at the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) meeting,” a planning ministry official familiar with the process told.
He said the proposal suggested Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to implement the project by June 2023 while the government would provide the entire project fund from its own resources.
The official said the under the project the dredgers would be procured along with ancillary equipment to dredge some 8,000 kilometres in 100 rivers across the country.
“The dredging will keep ferries, lunches, cargo vessels and other river vessels functional on domestic river routes round the year,” he said.
BIWTA officials, meanwhile, said they currently have 25 dredgers with an annual dredging capacity of 114 lakh cubic meter while 10 more dredgers are expected to join its fleet under an ongoing project.
With these procured dredgers the BIWTA will be able to dredge 346.50 lakh cubic meters in 2019.
“At least 1655.10 lakh cubic meter riverine routes are required to be dredged annually while our capacity is 846.50 lakh cubic meters mobilizing our BIWTA and private dredgers,” a BIWTA said.
He added: “So 808.60 lakh cubic meter riverine routes remains un-dredged despite the crucial need.”
Besides, the official said an initiative has been taken to open international river route in this region involving the domestic river routes adding that if the Bangladeshi river routes can be included in the international river transportation system, country’s trade and commerce would get a boost.
The government has initiated a process to procure some 35 dredgers involving Taka 4,489.03 crore to keep up navigability on 100 major naval routes.
“The Planning Commission by now reviewed a draft proposal on the project, expected to be discussed tomorrow at the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) meeting,” a planning ministry official familiar with the process told.
He said the proposal suggested Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to implement the project by June 2023 while the government would provide the entire project fund from its own resources.
The official said the under the project the dredgers would be procured along with ancillary equipment to dredge some 8,000 kilometres in 100 rivers across the country.
“The dredging will keep ferries, lunches, cargo vessels and other river vessels functional on domestic river routes round the year,” he said.
BIWTA officials, meanwhile, said they currently have 25 dredgers with an annual dredging capacity of 114 lakh cubic meter while 10 more dredgers are expected to join its fleet under an ongoing project.
With these procured dredgers the BIWTA will be able to dredge 346.50 lakh cubic meters in 2019.
“At least 1655.10 lakh cubic meter riverine routes are required to be dredged annually while our capacity is 846.50 lakh cubic meters mobilizing our BIWTA and private dredgers,” a BIWTA said.
He added: “So 808.60 lakh cubic meter riverine routes remains un-dredged despite the crucial need.”
Besides, the official said an initiative has been taken to open international river route in this region involving the domestic river routes adding that if the Bangladeshi river routes can be included in the international river transportation system, country’s trade and commerce would get a boost.
