The government moves to increase dredging capacity aiming to ensure navigability in river routes for smooth movement of goods and passenger vessels, says a high official of shipping ministry.
Under the initiative, the ministry has undertaken a project styled 'Purchase of 20 dredgers and required equipment' with an eye to increasing dredging capacity to 23.25-million cubic metres.
The project will help establish five dredger bases at Narayanganj, Barishal, Shimulia (Munshiganj), Aricha (Manikganj) and Khulna.
The project cost is estimated more than Tk 20.30 billion and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will implement it.
The official concerned told the FE on Saturday that state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury would inaugurate the BIWTA base at Shimulia on Sunday.
He says the dredger base will help faster maintenance, preservation and operations of dredgers.
Construction work at Shimulia started in January 2020 at a cost of Tk 250 million, according to the official.
The three-storey dredger base will have offices, staff dormitories and a workshop. It will supervise dredging work in Munshiganj, Faridpur, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts.
Officials at Shimulia ferry jetty can also supervise constant monitoring of river routes by using water vessels and dredging work.
