RAJSHAHI, March 25, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh Water Development Board
(BWDB) has started dredging in Padma river near Rajshahi city aims at
bringing back its navigability.
“We will carry out the dredging works till next mid-June,” said Golam
Sarwar, Superintending Engineer of Dredger Operation Circle under Bangladesh
Water Development Board (BWDB) here yesterday.
BWDB Superintending Engineer Aminul Haque Bhiyan said the dredging
activities are being implemented with an estimated cost of Taka 57 crore.
A six-kilometer area will be brought under dredging in the preliminary
stage. More than 26 lakh square-meter soils from Sonaikandi to Pathanparea
areas will be removed.
Rajshahi City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton told the journalists here on
Sunday that there is a plan of installing an international river port in
Rajshahi for enhancing trade with India on river route.
He said Bangladesh and India will jointly implement the venture and
necessary discussion was held between the two countries. An Indian delegation
will come to Rajshahi soon to visit the area physically.
The city mayor added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the
initiative of installing international river port in Rajshahi. The dredging
activities were started to this end. Through the capital dredging,
navigability is expected to remain for eight to ten months.
Md Muniruzzaman Moni, President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and
Industries, expected that on successful implementation of the river port
installation works, transportation of various industrial raw materials from
India to Rajshahi directly will be easier.
He mentioned that this venture will help flourishing trade and
industrial sector here and will support the employment generation process.