Speedboat service on Dhaka circular waterway launched

Speedboat service on the Dhaka circular waterway was launched Saturday (10 September) with five fast high-speed water vessels.

Initially, speedboats will ply on two routes under private initiative: Tongi, Abdullahpur-Kodda and Tongi/Abdullahpur (Gazipur)-Ulukhul (Kaliganj).

Fare for the Tongi/Abdullahpur-Kodda route – which will take 25 minutes – is Tk150, while that for the Tongi/Abdullahpur (Gazipur)-Ulukhul (Kaliganj) route is Tk120 and it will take 19 minutes.

Speedboats will be launched on Kodda-Gabatli and Gabtali-Sadarghat routes later in light of passenger demands, according to authorities.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel inaugurated services at Tongi river port.

Earlier, the two state ministers inaugurated the BIWTA's ecopark in the river port area.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, who attended the inauguration ceremony as chief guest, said, "Our existence will be endangered if we cannot protect the rivers."

Urging the industry owners to keep their own waste disposal system active, the state minister said, "Do not spoil the environment by throwing garbage in the river.

"Biswa Ijtema, a religious congregation of Muslims around the world, is held on the banks of the River Turag in Tongi. Bangladesh is being introduced to the world through this. Muslims from all over the world participate in this gathering and pray for the success of the Muslim Ummah, but we cannot provide them clean water. So, everyone should be aware and not throw garbage in the river."

He said 7,000 waterways out of 10,000 have been made operational as per the promise made by the prime minister.

Besides, the law minister has announced that a commission will be formed in December to identify the culprits behind the assassination of Bangabandhu. The rule of law has been established in the country through the trial of Bangabandhu's killers, said the state minister for shipping.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel said the rivers are dead today due to the greed of some dishonest businessmen. He urged everyone to be aware of littering.

The initiative to operate vessels on 110 km of waterway on four rivers around Dhaka was launched in order to reduce pressure of traffic on roads and to introduce cost-effective passenger and goods transportation systems by waterways.

Tongi Ecopark

Tongi Ecopark, built at a cost of Tk11.66 crore, was inaugurated Saturday.

Construction of Tongi Ecopark started on 8 November 2020 and was completed on 15 April 2022. The ecopark is constructed on 2.5 acres of land out of 3.0 acres acquired in Tongi river port area. The ecopark will help the people of all walks of life in the area to spend leisure time with their families in a beautiful environment.

Moreover, it will increase the government's revenue earning by preventing encroachment of the river banks.

Around 10,000 saplings of fruit, forest and medicinal plants have been planted in the ecopark, which will play a role in protecting the natural environment. It has a five-story watch tower, six child rides and a fountain.

In order to implement the promises made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League in 2018, the activities of development, conservation, beautification and commissioning of waterways around Dhaka city are ongoing.