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PM to inaugurate shipping ministry’s new infrastructures, vessels May 6


Bangladeshpost
Published : 04 May 2021 10:08 PM | Updated : 04 May 2021 10:08 PM

BSS, Dhaka

The newly established four Marine Academies, 500 houses under the Payra Port Rehabilitation Project, 20 dredgers of BIWTA and 63 dredging support vessels, a training and special inspection vessel, a dredger base and two BIWTC passenger ships will be inaugurated on May 6.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the infrastructures, vessels and projects under the Ministry of Shipping, virtually from Ganobhaban, an official release said Tuesday.

The infrastructures and vessels to be inaugurated include BIWTA’s 20 cutter suction dredgers, 63 dredging support vessels, training vessel ‘TS Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury (Dada Bhai)’, special inspection vessel ‘Inspector’, newly constructed Narayanganj Dredger Base; BIWTC’s two coastal passenger ships ‘MV Tajuddin Ahmed’ and ‘MV Ivy Rahman’; Payra Port Authority’s ‘Payra Housing’ Rehabilitation Center and Pabna, Barisal, Rangpur and Sylhet Marine Academies.

The ministry hoped that these infrastructures and vessels will add a new dimension to the development of the naval sector in the golden jubilee of country’s independence.

The inauguration of more than 100 vessels including 20 cutter suction dredgers made in Bangladesh in the golden jubilee of independence and Mujib Birth Centenary will be a significant landmark in the history of Bangladesh. The ‘newly built infrastructure and vessels’ will play a major role in protecting the navigability of the river, development of waterways, passenger transportation in the coastal areas and formation of skilled naval personnel.

According to the implementation of the Delta Plan and the election manifesto of the Awami League, the government is determined to excavate 10,000 kilometers of waterways. Keeping this in view , 20 dredgers and 63 dredging assistant vessels have been prepared.

After formation of the government in 2009, 16 dredgers were procured till 2015 with the aim of digging waterways and maintaining navigability.

At present, 20 dredgers have been added to BIWTA’s fleet, raising the total number of strong dredger units to 45.

The newly built state-of-the-art passenger ships ‘MV Tajuddin Ahmed’ and ‘MV Ivy Rahman’ have been built to make BIWTC’s coastal passenger ships and C-truck fleet efficient and up-to-date.

The two ships will operate in Kumira-Guptachara and Chittagong-Sandwip-Hatia-Barisal routes. The two ships will be able to carry 6.30 lakh passengers a year.

Earlier, in 2014 and 2015, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the passenger ships ‘MV Bangali’ and ‘MV Madhumati’.

BIWTC has a target of procuring 35 more commercial and six auxiliary vessels.

In order to rehabilitate the owners of the land, acquired for the construction of the country’s third seaport Payra Port, 500 houses with modern facilities are primarily being handed over to them.

Three thousand 423 more families will be rehabilitated in phases.

Four new marine academies have been set up in Pabna, Barisal, Rangpur and Sylhet following a landmark decision taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would contribute to the global shipping economy and generate huge employment opportunities of sailors in the country.

Gradually 400 cadets as well as sea-going mariners will be able receive training in these academies in different stages.