United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan on Sunday said the government is working with the highest priority to ensure safe, comfortable and hassle-free travel for passengers on waterways during Eid-ul-Azha and to restore public confidence in river transport. Speaking while visiting Chandpur River Port, he said authorities are maintaining round-the-clock monitoring at major ferry terminals and river ports across the country to facilitate the smooth return of holidaymakers to their workplaces after Eid. “Close surveillance is being carried out at all major terminals to ensure passengers do not face any inconvenience. Existing problems at river terminals and waterways have been identified and steps have been taken to address them promptly,” he said. Referring to the construction of the Chandpur Modern River Terminal, the state minister said part of the project has already been completed, but work was suspended after August 5 as the contractor stopped operations. “A new contractor will be appointed to complete the remaining work quickly. Once finished, the terminal will help Chandpur River Port regain its lost heritage and significance,” he added. Emphasising the need to rebuild public trust in water transport, Rajib said dredging activities would be intensified to keep waterways navigable and safe. “The government is implementing planned initiatives to modernise the country’s river ports and make them more suitable for present-day demands,” he said. He also said the government is committed to making waterways more efficient and passenger-friendly through pontoon modernisation, regular dredging and the development of river transport infrastructure. “The government is determined to revive the tradition and popularity of water transport. Necessary initiatives are also being taken to introduce high-speed and modern vessels in line with the changing times,” he added. During the visit, Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Arif Ahmed Mostafa, Chairman of the Chandpur Zila Parishad Advocate Selim Ullah Selim, and officials from the ministry and its affiliated agencies were present.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Bangladesh's state minister for shipping, on Wednesday (January 17, 2024) said the ferry, Rajanigandha, capsized in the Padma River near Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganj after being hit by a bulkhead.“Primarily, it is known that the ferry was anchored near the ghat and a bulkhead hit the ferry,” he said while talking to reporters at the secretariat. The actual reason could be known after getting probe report, he said. Ferry driver missing after it capsizes with vehicles in Padma River“Rajanigandha ferry is a utility ferry and there were a small number of vehicles on it. When vehicles started to board it ,the authorities usually maintain balance and whether the authorities followed it properly at that time it will be known later,” said the minister.The ferry authorities said they anchored the ferry due to dense fog and when they started their journey around 1:30 am from Daulatpur ghat the sky was clear but when they reached near Paturia they experienced poor visibility due to dense fog, he said.A secretary-level officer is on the spot and he will take necessary steps, said Khalid.Mentioning that Bulkhead is needed for transporting goods, the minister said, “The ministry is looking how to modernize those and register those and the Department of Shipping (DoS) is working on it.” Daulatdia-Paturia ferry services resume after 7 hoursA man identified as Humayun Kabir, 39, second master of the ferry, went missing as the ferry on the Daulatdia-Paturia route with nine trucks capsized near No 5 ghat in Paturia of Manikganj district earlier today.

Matarbari could become a regional commercial hub after the deep sea port opens. It will be used as a transshipment port. After Chittagong port, Matarbari will also be a lifeline of the economy. The Matarbari deep sea port will serve about 3 billion people of the region, including Bangladesh. Once fully operational, the port will contribute two to three percent of the country’s GDP, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told UNB. The deep sea port is now visible. If work continues at this pace, Matarbari deep sea port could be operational from 2026. Construction of the jetty and container yard will start by July. A large number of feeder vessels will come to this port. Money and time will be saved. It will have a great impact on the economy, said the state minister for shipping. He said the port is being constructed on 1,031 acres of land at Matarbari Dhalghat area of Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar. With the construction of the deep sea port, container ships with a capacity of 8,200 TEU will be able to anchor there. Read more: Operation of Matarbari deep sea port to start in 2026: state minister At present, it takes 45 days to send a consignment of goods from Bangladesh to the United States. Once Matarbari deep sea port is opened, it will reach the designated destination directly in just 23 days, the state minister said. Bangladeshi consignments will no longer have to wait at the ports of Singapore, Colombo and Malaysia. According to the Chittagong Port Authority, commercial activities at Matarbari deep sea port are expected to start in full swing in 2026. But already over the last two years, 112 cargo ships have arrived at the port. Tk 6.84 crore has been collected from these ships. All equipment for power plant has come through Matarbari port. Due to the depth, any large commercial ship will be able to anchor at this port and there are all kinds of facilities for loading and unloading. Matarbari is 34 nautical miles from Chittagong port. It takes two-three hours to reach by ship. Its distance by road is about 112 km. A 27 km road is being constructed from Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar to Matarbari Dhalghat. Meanwhile, land acquisition for the construction of roads and port has been completed. The channel built for the port is 250 meters wide, 18.5 meters deep and 14.3 meters long. Read More: Ambassador Lee visits Matarbari Coal-powered Plant to observe South Korean company’s construction work The detailed design of the project has been completed. Besides, contractors are being appointed for the construction of the jetty, collection of ship handling equipment and the purchase of tug boats. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the construction work of the project in the middle of this year. Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan told UNB that Matarbari’s distance from Chattogram by sea is 34 nautical miles, from Payra port it’s 190 nautical miles, and from Mongla port it’s 240 nautical miles. Therefore, goods from the mother vessel (large container ship) in Matarbari can be transported to other ports by road and sea in a short time. He also said at present, ships with a draft of only 9.5 metres can berth in the jetties of Chittagong port. However, recently a ship with 10-metre draft has been berthed there. But these ships can carry 800 to a maximum of 2400 TEU containers. A mother vessel has a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 TEU. Once Matarbari deep sea port opens, container ships with a capacity of over 8,000 TEU will be able to anchor. Read More: Operation of Matarbari deep sea port to start in 2026: state minister The state minister for shipping said the Matarbari Port Development Project has been taken up at an estimated cost of Tk 17,777.20 crore to set up the country’s first and only deep sea port. The duration of this project is till December 31, 2026. After the approval of the project, the implementation process was started. He also said the construction of the 14.30 km long approach channel with a length of 350 metres and a depth of 16 metres has been completed for the construction of the deep sea port. Besides, the construction of 2,150 metre long breakwater on the north side of the approach channel and 670-metre-long breakwater on the southern side has been completed. At present, tenders have been invited in three packages for the construction of a 460 metre long container jetty and a 300 metre long multipurpose jetty and construction of all port facilities, including container yards. According to project sources, Matarbari port road is being constructed in three phases. A 27 km road from Matarbari to Fasiakhali in Chakaria will be constructed and it will be connected to the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar four-lane highway. The construction period of the road has been fixed from January 2020 to December 2026. If this road is completed, goods can be transported to any place in the country by road. Read More: Govt positive about Singapore company's 400MW Matarbari solar power plant proposal: Nasrul

The government has prepared a list of  river encroachers across the country, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday. “A list of illegal river occupiers has been prepared and the River Protection Commission is also working in this regard and we are also working to improve navigability of rivers, he said while talking to reporters after attending a a meeting of taskforce on rivers at the secretariat. Read more: Sand lifting from Boro Feni River: 20 sued over shooting Baraiyahat municipality mayor, 2 others “We are working to protect rivers surrounding Dhaka and construction work walkways and eco parks is underway,” he said. The government has formed a taskforce and it will work to free the rivers surrounding Dhaka and the Karnaphuli River from illegal occupation, he said. “We have been able to make people aware about river protection, which is our success and now people are keeping river water clean,” he added. Read more: WASA key reason behind pollution of Dhaka’s rivers, NRCC chairman says Already the government has collected 50 dredging  machines to ensure navigability of the rivers and many channels have been recovered across the country for the movement of vessels, said Khalid. 

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said that three more marine academies will be established alongside the existing five to create skilled marine cadets. Khalid said this at a meeting of the marine academies held at the meeting room of the Shipping Ministry in the capital on Monday. “There are currently a total of five marine academies in the country in Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet, Pabna and Chattogram. Among them, the marine academy in Chattogram is an old one while the rest are newly built. We’ll establish three more marine academies as per the instruction of the Prime Minister,” said Khalid. The State Minister added that there are some challenges with the new marine academies that need to be overcome. “Mariners earn a large amount of foreign currencies working in foreign ships. That’s why we’ve decided to set up new marine academies which will create skilled marine cadets who will in turn help the development process of Bangladesh by supplying much-needed foreign currencies,” added Khalid. Read: Each division to get one marine academy: Hasina A total of 359 marine cadets from the 54th batch of Bangladesh Marine Academy have got jobs in various local and foreign ships after graduating in February. Among them, many female cadets have secured jobs in American, Australian and Singaporean ships. The State Minister also said the four newly established marine academies have received affiliations from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University. At the meeting, discussions were held on recruiting manpower, formulating a budget, buying simulators and acquiring land for the newly established marine academies.   Md Mostafa Kamal, Secretary of the Shipping Ministry, and other senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting. 

The work on installing scanners at every gate of Chittagong port is underway for easing import-export activities, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday. The scanner installation work is also underway at all land ports, including Mongla, he said while visiting the new mooring container terminal at Chittagong Port. The state minister said Chittagong Port is being further upgraded. Patenga Container Terminal and Overflow Yard have been constructed. Read: Hasina offers Ctg port for use by India’s north-eastern states Chittagong port is ready to handle the pressure of more ships, he added. Besides, according to the agreement with India, Indian ships can use Chittagong port and from there goods can be transported to north-eastern states of India by road, said Khalid. And so, the trial runs of Indian ships have been conducted at this port and more will be done, he added. Indian ships will start using this port regularly after the ‘Statutory Regulatory Order’ from the National Board of Revenue (NRB), he added.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has expressed hope that the US investment and technology will improve the waterways management of Bangladesh. He said this while speaking at a reception hosted in his honour at Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Monday (August 1). Khalid Mahmud Chowdury is leading a Bangladesh Waterways Management Reverse Trade Mission Team to the United States at the invitation of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), said a media release on Tuesday.  It said the state minister emphasized further expanding collaboration between Bangladesh and the United States in the inland waterways and shipping sector, an eco-friendly and less expensive alternative suitable for a riverine country like Bangladesh. Read: ‘Democracy’ doesn’t go with liberation-spirit disbelievers: Khalid Mahmud He expressed his optimism that the visit of the Bangladesh Waterways Management Reverse Trade Mission Delegation to the USA will open up a new avenue of long and durable cooperation between the two friendly countries. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Golam Sadek highlighted the objective of their visit to different ports and establishments and meeting with authorities concerned during their 10-day stay in the USA. He also briefed the activities of the BIWTA. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam, in his welcome remarks, hoped that the visit of the Bangladesh delegation would further bolster the bilateral relationship and cooperation between the two countries. The event was also attended by senior officials of the USTDA. Mehnaz Ansary from USTDA also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the delegation members led by Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury placed a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Corner of the Embassy to pay tributes to the great leader.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday requested passengers to take Paturia route in Manikganj instead of Shimulia to cross the Padma during Eid journey as a lower number of ferries are in service at Shimulia. There are 10 ferries on service in Shimulia of Munshiganj, 21 in Paturia of Manikganj and four in Aricha. In the morning there is extra pressure of passengers and vehicles in Shimulia terminal, said the state minister while inspecting the Shimulia launch and ferry terminal at Munshiganj. Also read:Mad rush of homebound people at Shimulia ferry ghat As per the previous instructions, heavy vehicles are not being allowed to cross the ferry in Shimulia and only small vehicles are being ferried at Shimulia terminal, he said. “I am requesting to use Paturia route instead of Shimulia to avoid additional traffic congestion.” Considering the overall safety of the Padma Bridge, 10 good quality ferries have been in service at Shimulia terminal, said Khalid. “I request you to follow the instructions of the government. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the Padma Bridge for traffic in the next few months.”

Travellers will have to show their National Identity Card (NID) for buying tickets for launch journey, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday. The decision will come into effect five days ahead the Eid-ul-Fitr, said the minister while talking to reporters after attending a meeting on ensuring safe operation of steamers, launches and other river vessels during Eid-ul-Fitr. Also read: Khalid inaugurates pilot launch service in Gaibandha The government has taken the initiative to ensure safety of the passengers who are planning to go to their respective homes using river route, said Khalid. Strict measures will be taken after Eid to give the system a permanent shape, he added. Replying to a question, the minister said those who don’t have NID cards will have to show their birth registration certificates for purchasing tickets. Issuing a warning, Kalid said no launch owners will be allowed to charge extra fares and carry passengers beyond their capacity. Also read: Smoke in Barishal-bound launch creates panic among passengers Besides, movement of goods-laden vessels will remain suspended five days before and after  Eid, he said. The Eid vacation for the garment workers will start from April 27, he added.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated an experimental launch service from Balasighat in Gaibandha to Bahadurabadghat in Jamalpur on Saturday afternoon.If the pilot launch service becomes successful, ferries will be arranged for the transportation of goods and vehicles.The state minister said this while addressing a function at Balasi seaport on the occasion of the inauguration of the pilot launch service between Balasi and Bahadurabad. Also read: Smoke in Barishal-bound launch creates panic among passengers The government has taken the initiative to dig 10,000 kilometers of waterways. In the meantime, 7,000 km of waterways have been excavated, said the junior minister.