The government is working to eviction, encroachment and pollution of illegal structures on the river banks. The people of Bengal are now thinking about the river; This is our first success. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke about river mining; In the election manifesto, he talked about digging 10,000 kilometers of waterways. His promises will be fulfilled. The money will be spent according to the ability to implement the project. The waterway will be modernized and made life-oriented. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has this capability. Proceed accordingly.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said these things in the development, financial and administrative meeting of BIWTA held in the meeting room of the ministry today. Ministry Secretary Md. Mustafa Kamal along with senior officers and BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadek and department heads were present in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that BIWTA has eviction of 12,245 illegal structures from January 2019 to 2022 (ongoing). The amount of reclaimed bank land/site is 389.62 acres. These illegal structures were evicted in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barisal, Ashuganj-Bhairab Bazar, Nawapara, Ghorashal and Tongi river port areas.
It was also informed in the meeting that 6,202 boundary pillars have been installed till August under the construction of ancillary infrastructure including pillar protection, waway and jetty along the banks of Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu rivers. 10 km of walkways are visible and construction of another 42 km of walkways is in progress. Construction of six heavy jetties has been completed at Amin Bazar, Paglabazar East End, Paglabazar West End, Munsikhola, Sinnirtek and Gabtali and Aliganj Afchar Uddin Ghat, Aliganj Madrasa Ghat, adjacent to Sultana Kamal Bridge, Machua Bazar Ghat, Narayanganj Labor Landing Point, Narayanganj Silo Point , construction of eight more heavy jetties at Shimrail 2nd and 3rd Ghats and Sarulia Labor Handling Point is in progress. An Ecopark has been constructed in the Tongi River port area and two more Ecoparks are in progress at Barabazar in Gabtali and Hajiganj Ferryghat in Narayanganj. Ecopark constructed at Tongi river port area will be inaugurated on September 10. Simultaneously, speedboat service will be inaugurated from Tongi river port to Dhaka circular waterway.
Construction of modern terminal building of Chandpur river port, acquisition of six river clinic vessels for the purpose of freeing important river water garbage, launch of Cox's Bazar-Maheshkhali ferry service, acquisition of two large rescue vessels, establishment of Dredger Training Institute and other projects to be emphasized on speedy implementation.