State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the Awami League government has been working on the development of waterways since it came to power. The present government is working to increase the capacity of the country's waterways to reduce the pressure of freight vehicles on the highways.
He made the comment while speaking as the chief guest at the signing ceremony of an agreement on excavation of waterways to enhance the capacity of the Chittagong-Dhaka-Ashuganj maritime corridor at Hotel Radisson in Dhaka on Saturday.
The state minister said the development of independent Bangladesh was halted on August 15, 1975 with the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family. The post-75 government did not develop the country in any way including waterways.
Then Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina came to power and helped in rescuing and developing the country's waterways.
With the completion of the two agreements that have been signed today, cargo vehicles and passengers will be able to reach their destination with more ease on the waterways of Bangladesh. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Minister of State for Shipping. Ayub Ali, Managing Director of Karnafuli Ship Builders Ltd. Engineer Abdur Rashid on behalf of the contractor Gulf Kabla-Karnafuli Joint Venture, Md Ainul Islam.
Under the project, about 900 km of waterways will be excavated, cyclone shelters will be constructed at 6 places, dredging will be done in 3 ferry crossing areas, construction and development of 4 passenger and 2 cargo terminals, construction of 15 landing stations and 2 multipurpose vessels will be done.
