SANGSAD BHABAN, Feb 14, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today said the government plans to increase the number of ferries on different routes.
“We have a plan to increase number of ferries on different routes operated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC),” he told the Jatiya Sangsad responding to a starred question by treasury bench lawmaker M Mujibul Haq of Kishorganj.
Under the plan, the state minister said two improved quality K-type ferry are under construction and were expected to be commissioned by
June 2020.
Chowdhury said a process was underway to build six more improved utility ferry and six improved K-type ferry a project titled “procurement of 35 river vessels, 8 auxiliary vessels and construction of two new slip-ways for the BIWTC”.
These ferries would join the BIWTC fleet by June 2022, he said.
Chowdhury informed the house that currently 50 ferries were operating on different routes — 20 of those in Paturia sector, 18 at Shimulia, 5 in Chandpur, 3 are in Bhola and the rest 4 in Laharhat sector.