PM Urges The Officials To Make The River Routes Safe

"We have to improve the navigability of the rivers and ensure safe and secure river routes for transportation of people and goods," she said adding river routes are very important for Bangladesh due to its geographical location.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the officials of the Ministry of Shipping at Bangladesh Secretariat here today. She visited the ministry as part of her plan to exchange views with the officials of all ministries and departments on the development issues and provide necessary guideline.

Shipping Minister M Shajahan Khan gave the introductory speech. Secretary of the Ministry Syed Monjurul Islam and heads of different departments and organizations under the ministry were present.

The Prime Minister asked the officials to take immediate steps to check pollution of the rivers across the country so they don't meet the fate of the Buriganga of Dhaka. No urban waste should be drained into the Karnaphuli, Surma or Kushiyara. Oil spilling from ships in the Karnaphuli should be checked, she said.

She thanked the shipping ministry for taking massive programme for protection of the Buriganga River banks through construction of pillars and walkways. More effective steps should be taken to stop illegal occupation of the river banks, she said.

Pointing out the pollution of the Buriganga river, she said, "I was really saddened and about to cry during a recent journey. The river is dying spreading bad smell, which is a matter of grave concern for us as Dhaka was established on its bank."

The Karnaphuli in Chittagong, Bhairab River in Khulna, Surma, Kushiyara and Monu in Sylhet and rivers in Barisal may also face the same fate in future. "We don't want to let other rivers die. We have already taken steps for dredging the other rivers surrounding Dhaka. But, I think more effective steps should be taken in this regard," the Prime Minister said.

Sheikh Hasina said the sources of urban waste and sludge should be identified and proper drainage system and treatment plant should in place. The Buriganga could not be cleaned without closing the ways of pollution, she said.

The Prime Minister laid importance on strict execution of the National River Commission Act to protect the rivers. She said capital dredging of 36 rivers is going on as part of a master plan to get back the navigability of the 53 rivers. Other rivers would be excavated gradually, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said about 1000 kilometers of river routes and 2,000 acres of land were reclaimed through capital dredging. This land would be used for development of industrial zones by local and foreign investors, she said.

The Prime Minister said, dredging of the four rivers surrounding Dhaka is being carried out by the Water Resources Ministry. "But sometimes they stop the works on different pleas and start again when I push," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, many influential persons constructed permanent structures on rivers. They raise question when we ask for their demolition to regain the river course, she said.

About the shifting of the Hazaribag tannery, she Prime Minister said, for a long time the project remained abandoned. It was in the planning commission for three years. The government cleared the project a week ago.

The owners of the industrial plots of the Hazaribag ternary industries were given ultimatum to shift their units, she said adding after the timeframe all ternaries in Hazaribag would be closed.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister inaugurated the automation and video conferencing system of the ministry with its eight organizations. She talked to the officials of Chittagong Port Authority and Bangladesh Marine Academy.

Sheikh Hasina said the weak aspects of the water transport and shipping sector should be corrected while laws should be enforced very strictly. Steps should be taken to prevent accidents on waterways.

She said Awami League is committed to the people of the country to provide them with a safe water transport system. "It was our electoral commitment," she said adding all organizations, owners and officials have to work together for its materialization.

The river transportation is not only linked to carrying passengers and goods. The sector is one of the lifelines of Bangladesh's economy playing a great role in export and import and management of the ports.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had attached special importance to the sector and constituted Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation in 1972. As the Prime Minister, Bangabandhu kept the charge of the Shipping Ministry from July 8, 1974 to January 26, 1975 when he executed massive programmes to give the ministry a firm footing, she said.

The Prime Minister said, brutal killing of Bangabandhu mired the development of the shipping sector like others. The Awami League government after taking office in 1996 launched the development programmes of the sector again, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, the resources of the country are limited. "We have to ensure sustainable development through optimum use of the resources."

The Prime Minister asked the officials to establish a maritime institute in the northern part of the country to facilitate the students of the region to study on this specialized subject.

She said, Bangladesh is going to sign coastal shipping agreement with India. It would help expand Bangladesh's international trade to a large extent. Similar agreements would be signed with Myanmar and Sri Lanka, she said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)