Total 178 Rivers will be excavated to ensure the uninterrupted navigation of the country – Bangladesh Shipping State Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury

By Tahsin Taha (Student, Dept. of Law,
North-South University, BD)

To ensure the country’s inland waterways navigability, a total of 178 rivers will be excavated under the “Dredging Master plan” by the Ministry of Shipping.

On 09 February 2020, Mr. Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Minister of State of shipping, informed the Hon’ble National Assembly that “About 10,000 km. Length of the waterway will be made navigable by the excavation”.

Referring to the commencement of the excavation of the waterway, Khalid Mahmud said, “The excavation of 470 km. Waterway under Bangladesh and India naval protocol has started with the joint financing by the two countries.

Under this program, 285 km. of the Ashuganj-Jakiganj waterway of the Kalani-Kushiyara River and 185 km. of the Sirajganj-Doikhawa waterway of the Jamuna River will be excavated.”

In response to a question asked by the treasury bench MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed, the State Minister of shipping said, “During the monsoon, the length of the inland waterway is about 24,000 km. But during the dry season, it reduces to 6,000 km.

So, therefore, to ensure the vessels movement without any interruption, various types of steps have already been taken.”

It will help the drainage systems of the countries as well as irrigation.