MADARIPUR, April 21:State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government will dredge about 10,000 kilometers river route across the country aiming at restoration of navigability of major rivers.
“With cooperation from all, the government has already recovered many rivers once occupied. None can grab one inch of river in the future,” he said while addressing the inaugural function of the Sheikh Hasina Bridge at Shibchar here, reports BSS.
There are 200 dredgers in the country at public and private levels, he said, adding that another 200 dredgers will be procured by next year.
Presided over by Shipping Secretary Abdus Samad, the inaugural function was addressed by, among others, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore M Mahbub-ul Islam, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Chairman Pranay Kanti Biswas, Madaripur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Wahidul Islam and Superintendent of Police Subrata Kumar Halder.
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) constructed the 99-meterlong Sheikh Hasina Bridge at cost of Tk 100 million.
