Govt committed to ensuring inland waterway safety: Adviser Sakhawat
Regular drives are being conducted to stop unfit vessels from operating, and strict monitoring is in place to ensure all vessels obtain and renew route permits and licenses, he says
The government is firmly committed to ensuring the safety of the country's inland waterways, Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said today (7 May).
"The ministry has already taken several measures to enhance waterway safety. Regular drives are being conducted to stop unfit vessels from operating, and strict monitoring is in place to ensure all vessels obtain and renew route permits and licenses," the adviser made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of "Naval Safety Week 2025," held at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in Dhaka.
"Vessel owners have been warned against overloading passengers or goods, and many violators have been penalised," he added.
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Sakhawat further said to ensure safety, night-time operations of bulkhead vessels have been suspended. "The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority is conducting regular dredging to maintain navigability, and law enforcement agencies are patrolling high-risk areas to prevent crimes on waterways."
Mobile courts are operating routinely, and actions are being taken to stop extortion at terminals, he said.
The adviser hoped that travellers using river routes during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha holidays would enjoy safe and smooth journeys.
He also emphasised the need to prevent river pollution by all means, pointing out that Bangladesh has over 1,000 rivers and approximately 10,000km of waterways, with a third of the population still relying on river transport.
"Illegal encroachments on rivers must be stopped, and efforts are ongoing — particularly with support from local administrations — to restore river navigability and curb pollution."
"River pollution is especially severe in densely populated and industrial areas," the adviser said, noting that initiatives to clean the Buriganga River have been delayed due to financial constraints and lack of necessary equipment.
The adviser called upon vessel owners, workers, and passengers to join hands in ensuring maritime safety across the country.
