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 said the people don’t want to hear the definition of democracy from the deniers of Bangabanhdu, Liberation War and Independence. “In order to stay in Bangladesh, one has to be steadfast towards three spirits (Bangabandhu, Liberation War and Independence) as well as accept the government of the pro-liberation force,” he said. The state minister made these remarks at the publication ceremony of the golden jubilee issue of a weekly ‘Saptahik Dabanal’ at the National Press Club in the city, said a PID handout. READ: Zero tolerance against unfit river vessels: Khalid Mahmud During the Liberation War, several newspapers and magazines like the weekly ‘Dabanal’ spread the spirit of the Liberation War among the people dispelling propagandas, he said. Khalid Mahmud hoped that the magazine would play a glorious role again with new dimensions. The state minister welcomed the initiative to publish ‘Dabanal’ again by Sheherin Selim Ripon, a grandson of the ‘Dabanal’ founding publisher and patron Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali. READ: River-grabbers gone into hiding: Khalid Mahmud Awami League’s presidium member Qamrul Islam spoke  on the occasion, while freedom fighter Nasiruddin Yousuff and Rezaul Karim who is son of Captain M Mansur Ali were present. Ripon, also the president of Shaheed Captain M Mansur Ali Foundation, presided over the function moderated by general secretary of the foundation Advocate Mujibur Rahman.

The government will strengthen its monitoring over unfit river vessels to put an end to accidents on waterways, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.