The government will not tolerate any irregularity in construction of 35 new dredgers including crane boats, tugboats, houseboats and other related materials, reports BSS.
“Officials concerned should have to ensure the quality of dredgers as per tender agreement,” State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmood Chowdhury came up with this during a courtesy call with Shipping and Communication Reporters’ Forum Bangladesh (SCRFB) at his ministry on Sunday.
Among others, SCRFB president Asish Kumar Dey, SCRFB ex-president Anisur Rahman Khan, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity former general secretary Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo and SCRFB general secretary Rafiqul Islam and vice president of SCRFB Amaresh Roy were present during the meeting.
He said dredging department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is looking the matter and they are responsible to ensure quality of 35 new dredgers under construction.
Earlier, the BIWTA under the shipping ministry has procured these dredgers, ancillary machineries and accessories at a cost of Taka 4,400 crore. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in October last year approved the project to procure 35 dredgers at a cost of Taka 4,489.03 crore to maintain navigability of 100 major rivers. Dredging work of four rivers – Jhinai, Ghagot, Bangshi and Nagda will begin soon, the state minister added.
He also said all the illegal structures that was built grabbing riverbanks across the country will be removed to ensure free river channel. The state minister also discussed the scenario of country’s river condition and encroachment.
