The waterway authority has identified problems behind the previous water bus service, which incurred Tk57 crore in losses over the past decade.
Shaikh Rabiul Alam. Photo: Screengrab
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Shaikh Rabiul Alam. Photo: Screengrab
Water bus services will be launched on Dhaka’s 110-kilometre circular waterway within the next two to three months, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told Parliament today (7 September).
He made the disclosure while responding to a supplementary question from member of the parliament Abul Kausar Muhammad Nazrul Islam (Gaibandha-3) during the question-answer session.
Preparations are under way to create the necessary infrastructure and environment for operating water buses along the waterways surrounding Dhaka, the minister said.
According to the minister, a water bus service was first introduced in Dhaka nearly a decade ago. However, the service incurred losses of Tk57 crore over the past 10 years, averaging around Tk5.7 crore annually.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has identified the problems behind the previous initiative and is taking them into account in the new plan.
“We hope to launch the service within the next two to three months,” Shaikh Rabiul Alam said.
424 pollution hotspots identified in rivers around Dhaka
The minister also outlined government plans to clean up the rivers surrounding the capital.
A total of 424 pollution hotspots have been identified in the rivers around Dhaka, where chemical, liquid and solid waste is being dumped into waterways at alarming rates.
An integrated initiative has been taken to clean up five rivers around the capital under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he added.
A high-level coordination meeting was held yesterday (6 September) to oversee the initiative, while a committee has been formed to monitor its implementation.
The rivers have already been inspected as part of the initiative.
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka WASA), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), Gazipur City Corporation (GCC), BIWTA and the Ministry of Water Resources are working together on the river-cleaning programme.
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