State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury MP said that to keep Bangladesh healthy and active, the flow of the river should be kept active. Due to lack of navigation Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona and northern areas have been flooded.
The navigability of the rivers should be brought back.
Bangabandhu was collecting several dredgers to restore the navigability of riverine Bangladesh. After killing Bangabandhu, I did not see that step again. Brahmaputra river used to have big ships.
They are closed due to lack of excavation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken steps to excavate the old Brahmaputra river. Not just the old Brahmaputra; Plans have been taken to dredge other rivers.
The Prime Minister formulated the Delta Plan. Its activities are progressing.
BIWTA is implementing a project of dredging the old Brahmaputra river to restore the flow in the Brahmaputra river during dry season and ensure safe navigation throughout the year.
If this project is implemented, if the Brahmaputra river is developed as a second class route, the distance will be reduced by 116 km on the Bangladesh-India Nautical Protocol route.
Opening the mouth of Brahmaputra river will ensure the flow of Turag and Balu rivers. Pollution of rivers around Dhaka will be reduced. Great success will come.
This is a big challenge. Project ongoing. A lot of digging has been done on the lower side. If you open your mouth, success will come.
The state minister said these things in his speech as the chief guest at the national workshop titled "Restoration of Dry Season Flow in old Brahamaputra River Go With Flow" organized by BIWTA at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka today.
Chairman of BIWTA Commodore Golam Sadek presided over the event and the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Md. Mostafa Kamal, member of the Physical Infrastructure Department of the Planning Commission Satyajit Karmakar, water expert Dr. Ainun Nishat, First Secretary of Netherlands Embassy Folkert de Jeger, Executive Director of IWM Zahirul Haque Khan.
The State Minister said that Bangladesh Awami League mentioned the issue of digging 10 thousand kilometers of waterways in the 2018 election manifesto with the aim of dredging rivers.
Actions are ongoing accordingly. He said that no government or party except Awami League has taken steps to dig waterways.
There has been an increase in inland shipping along with the ports of Chittagong, Mongla and Payra. The cost of transporting goods by sea is less.
Seaports will be much more dynamic if inland waterways remain navigable.