Rajshahi hosts awareness seminar ahead of nationwide Watercraft Census 2026, scheduled from August 20 to 29 across Bangladesh. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 29, 2026 (BSS)- With the aim of creating an integrated and accurate database of engine-driven watercraft operating in the country's 
maritime, coastal and inland waters, the Watercraft Census 2026 will be held across the country from August 20 to 29. 

On the occasion, an awareness seminar was held today in the conference room of the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner's Office.
 
The seminar, organised by the Divisional Statistics Office, was attended by Divisional Commissioner Dr. ANM Bazlur Rashid as the chief guest.

Special guests present were Professor Dr. Md. Mansur Rahman, Chairman of the Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, and Mohammad Billal Hossain, Superintendent of Police, River Police, Rajshahi Region. 

The keynote paper on the planning, preparation and progress of the watercraft census was presented at the seminar by Md. Abdul Halim, Joint Director of the Divisional Statistics Office.
 
It was informed at the seminar that the objective of this census, initiated by the Ministry of Shipping and implemented by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics [BBS], is to collect detailed information on all engine-driven watercraft in the country and create an integrated national database. 

This database will help make development planning, policy-making, research, watercraft management and registration activities in the water transport sector more effective. 

However, watercraft operated under the own management of the Armed Forces and non-motorized ordinary boats will remain outside the scope of this census.
 
It was further informed at the seminar that the census questionnaire and data collection method will be tested through pilot operations in two districts of the country on August 3 and 4. 

Later, the main census will be conducted for 10 days across the country from August 20 to 29. 

Presenting information on Rajshahi Division, it was informed that a total of 23,587 engine-driven watercraft have been identified in the division. Among them, 13,650 are ghat-based and 9,937 are household-based.
 
In his speech as the chief guest at the seminar, Dr. Bazlur Rashid said, the goal of the watercraft census, which is going to be held for the first time in the history of the country, is not just to determine the number of watercraft; but to create an accurate count.

Usable and rich databases will play an important role in development planning, safety, policy-making and improving the quality of government services in the water transport sector.
 
He said the success of a census does not depend only on data collection; rather, the real success depends on how effectively that information can be 
used. 

Therefore, such data must be collected that will be helpful in making realistic decisions in water transport management, planning, research and development activities in the long term.
 
He sought sincere cooperation from government and private institutions, watercraft owners, concerned stakeholders and the general public for the successful implementation of Watercraft Census 2026.
 
Additional Divisional Commissioners Md. Rezaul Alam Sarkar and Mohammad Habibur Rahman, along with heads of various government departments and persons associated with watercraft participated directly in the seminar.

Additional Deputy Commissioners of eight districts of Rajshahi Division and Deputy Directors of District Statistics Offices virtually participated, among others, in the event.