The government will procure 35 more dredgers to ensure smooth navigability of the waterways, considering its importance on the country's economic growth.
"We (the government) have procured 34 dredgers over the last ten years. The process is underway to procure 35 more," state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said on Thursday.
He was addressing a function titled "Rivers and Liberation War" on a ship floating on the river Buriganga, marking the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.
Nonghar, a social organisation, in cooperation with Three Angles Engineers Ltd, River Conservation Alliance and River Justice organised the event.
The junior minister said the government was procuring the dredgers to implement its plan to dredge 10,000 kilometres of the river routes.
He informed the function that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had procured eight dredgers soon after the country's independence. But since then, not a single dredger was procured until 2008, he said.
Terming rivers as the lifeblood of the economy, that is also inextricably mingled with the people's life and culture, Mr. Chowdhury laid emphasis on utilising the rivers through coordinated efforts for ensuring economic development of the country.
He also reiterated the warnings against grabbing of the riverbanks.
President of Nonghar Suman Shams presided over the event, which was also attended by river expert Tofail Ahmed, writer Ishaq Khan, convenor of Save River Buriganga Mihir Biswas and secretary general of Riverine People Sheikh Rokon.
