PM Eyes Private Water Bus Services to Revive Dhaka Waterways

The government on Sunday approved a plan to allow private companies to operate water bus services on waterways surrounding Dhaka as part of a wider initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to restore the capital's river transport system.

The decision was made at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin.

The meeting also resolved to restore and maintain the navigability of the rivers around Dhaka to strengthen water-based transport and improve urban mobility.

Under the initiative, proposals from interested private operators will be assessed before permits are granted to run water bus services on designated routes.

The Prime Minister directed the relevant authorities to work in coordination to reduce pollution in the rivers surrounding the capital, upgrade Dhaka's drainage network and ensure uninterrupted water flow by keeping the waterways navigable.

He emphasised that restoring the river routes should be accompanied by measures to protect the river ecosystem and improve overall urban management.

Tarique Rahman also instructed officials to plant a variety of trees along riverside walkways to enhance the environment and improve the scenic appeal of the riverbanks.

The meeting was attended by Road Transport, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, and senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies.