ZCZC
BSS-16
ECNEC-MEETING
ECNEC approves Tk 4,489 cr project to buy 35 dredgers
DHAKA, Oct 23, 2018 (BSS) – The Executive Committee of the National
Economic (ECNEC) today approved a project to procure some 35 dredgers
involving Taka 4,489.03 crore to keep up navigability in 100 major rivers
across the country.
The approval came from the 11th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year
held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area with
ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal said a total of 21 projects were approved today involving an overall
estimated cost of Taka 19,778.73 crore.
“Of the total project cost, Taka 17,316.93 crore will come from the
Government of Bangladesh portion, Taka 233.93 crore from the organization’s
own fund while the rest of Taka 2,227.87 crore from project assistance,” he
said.
Of the approved 21 projects, 19 are new while the rest of two are revised
projects.
The Planning Minister said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority
(BIWTA) under the Ministry of Shipping will implement the project by June
2023 while the government would provide the entire project fund from its own
resources.
He said under the project, the dredgers would be procured along with
ancillary equipment to dredge some 8,000 kilometres in 100 rivers across the
country.
The Minister said the dredging would keep ferries, lunches, cargo vessels
and other river vessels functional on domestic river routes round the year.
According to the Ministry of Shipping, the BIWTA currently has 25 dredgers
with an annual dredging capacity of 114 lakh cubic meter while 10 more
dredgers are expected to join its fleet under an ongoing project.
With the additional dredgers, the BIWTA will be able to dredge 346.50 lakh
cubic meters in 2019.
At least 1655.10 lakh cubic meter riverine routes are required to be
dredged annually while the overall dredging capacity of the country is 846.50
lakh cubic meters mobilizing dredgers from the BIWTA and the private sector.
So, 808.60 lakh cubic meter riverine routes remain undredged despite the
crucial need.
Besides, an initiative has been taken to open international river route in
this region involving the domestic river routes and if the Bangladeshi river
routes can be included in the international river transportation system,
country’s trade and commerce would get a boost.
The project has been framed based on the findings of the ‘Feasibility
Study on Capital Dredging and Sustainable River management in Bangladesh’.
Once the project is implemented, it will be possible to meet around 70.81
percent of the annual dredging capacity of the country.
The main project operations include procurement of two 28″ cutter suction
dredgers and other necessary equipment, eight 24″ cutter suction dredgers and
other necessary equipment, eight 20″ cutter suction dredgers and other
necessary equipment, nine 18″ cutter suction dredgers and other necessary
equipment, two 12″ cutter suction dredgers and other necessary equipment, two
trailing suctions hoper dredgers along with other necessary equipment, two
water injection jetting dredgers, two self propelled pontoon mounted grab
dredgers, some 35 cutter suction dredgers crane boats, 30 crew houseboats and
five officer house boats.
The project area will cover Dhaka, Narayanganj, Manikganj, Munshiganj,
Madaripur, Barishal, Bagerhat, Gaibandha, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Kishoreganj,
Jamalpur and Sylhet districts.
MORE/ASG/GM/RY/1655 hrs