State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that the success of Bangabandhu government in just three and a half years of war-torn Bangladesh; No government in 50 years has been able to show that success. On 15 August 1975, Bangabandhu and his family wanted to assassinate Bangladesh. Through that stigmatized chapter and change of political pot, the country entered the era of darkness and corruption. After the Awami League came to power in early 2009 under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, various initiatives have been taken. The Prime Minister himself is taking the lead in the difficult task of restoring the extinct and evicted rivers, flowing them through excavations and developing the shipping system. Recovering lost waterways focuses on dredger collection.
After independence, Bangabandhu collected seven dredgers to maintain the navigability of the waterways. After the assassination of Bangabandhu on 15 August 1975, no further dredgers were collected. The Awami League government has so far procured 40 dredgers; another 35 dredgers are being procured. According to the Awami League's election manifesto, 8,000 km of waterways have been dug out of 10,000 km; The rest of the work is ongoing. Bangladesh is at the top of the Himalayas under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh is now a role model of development. On June 25, the Prime Minister will surprise the world. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we will build the golden Bengal of Bangabandhu's dream. In that case the Ministry of Shipping wants to have a special role.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of 'Naval Safety Week-2022' at Shilpakala Academy auditorium in Chandpur on Saturday.
Nationwide Weekly Safety Week 2022 started on 19th May with the theme “Trained Manpower and Safe Vessels, Contribute to Naval Security”.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Shipping Md. Mostafa Kamal, Deputy Commissioner Anjana Khan Majlish, Ship Owner Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, Md. Nurul Haque, General Secretary of Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association, Sheikh Mahfuz Hamid, Chairman of Bangladesh Coastal Ship Owners Association and Md. Manjurul Kabir, Chief Engineer and Ship Surveyor of Shipping Department and others were present at the programme.
The state minister said an international standard river port would be set up at Chandpur.
“We need sand,” he said. The administration will take appropriate action against the illegal and unplanned sand miners no matter how powerful they are. He said the office of the Department of Shipping has been opened in Chandpur. No need to go to Dhaka for any work related to boat fitness and shipping. The service will reach the doorsteps of the people.
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said, the flow of the river must be maintained. Otherwise riverine Bangladesh cannot be saved. The government is working to create trained shipping workers. Five Marine Academies have been established. Marine academies will be established in each divisional town. The National Maritime Institute (NMI) has been set up at Madaripur to train sailors and Ship Personnel Training Centers (SPTCs) have been set up at Barisal and Madaripur to train sailors. NMI will be established in Kurigram. To employ trained ship workers
The state minister appealed to the boat owners. He said as long as trained manpower and safe vessels are established, the slogan of Naval Safety Week will be "Trained manpower and safe vessels will contribute to maritime security."
There were two presentations on 'Modern Passenger Ship Design' and 'Inland Ship Sailor Training, Testing, Certification'. A video on 'saving lives and using fire extinguishers' was shown. On the occasion of Naval Security-2022, the state minister unveiled the cover of the publication titled 'Subarnatari'.
At the end of the cultural program is organized.
It is to be noted that Naval Safety Week is observed every year under the auspices of the Department of Shipping under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Shipping to ensure the safety of the vessels and passengers on the waterways and to keep the waterways free from pollution.
The State Minister later attended as the chief guest at the concluding function of "Inspection and Three-Day Annual Exercise" 2022 organized by BIWTA at Gazaria in Munshiganj.
