Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday inaugurated the dredging works for improving the navigability of river route from Mongla to Pakshi via Chandpur-Mawa-Goalanda, local media reports.
The project aims at boosting navigability of the waterway for facilitating shipment of heavy equipment and goods at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Under the project, to be conducted by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the portions of Padma, Ganga, Kocha, Swarupkati, Amtali and Arial Khan rivers (more than 450 kilometers in total) will be dredged.
The dredging work will continue until June 2025, according to media reports.
During the ceremony, Khan said: “ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken some milestone steps to dredge rivers, restore navigability and encourage waterway communications. In the previous term, the Awami League government procured 14 dredgers while procurement of 20 more dredgers is under process.”
The shipping minister also added that the government has taken steps to demolish illegal structures on river banks and restore navigability.