DHAKA, June 27, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today said the neighboring India is extending its support to Bangladesh for further developing the river routes between the two countries.
“India is supporting the government to improve the river routes connectivity between the two countries as they (India-Bangladesh) have many modes of communications-river, land, air and railways,” he said.
He said this in a dialogue on ‘Bangladesh-India Naval Communication: Potentiality and What to do’ organized by Indian Media Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) at the National Press Club (NPC) in the city.
Highlighting the Indian support to Bangladesh, he said the development of the waterways will be made in such ways so that it is possible to go to Assam or Tripura easily through the Gumti.
He mentioned that communication, especially water transportation, can play a significant role for the development of the country saying a cruise ship from Bangladesh officially went to India while an Indian cruise also came to Bangladesh in recent days.
He said the present government is working relentlessly to protect the rivers of the country as it has formed committees in 64 districts asking Upazila Nirbahi Officers to help in this regard.
He said there are now nearly 200 government and private dredgers in the country.
As per the Awami League (AL) election manifesto, he said, the ruling AL government has a plan to excavate 10 thousand kilometers of waterways.
Praising the media role for the protection of the rivers in the country, Khalid said the media has emphasized on this issue with utmost sincerity.
“With the cooperation of media, we have succeeded to raise awareness for the protection of the rivers.” he added.
IMCAB president Basudev Dhar presided over the programme while its general secretary Rafiqul Islam Sabuj presented the concept-paper.
The Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, NPC General Secretary Farida Yasmin, Indian Chamber of Industries Director Ishant Shuvo Pandit, Indian Chamber of Industry Adviser Nakib Ahmed, NPC Senior Vice-President Omar Faruque, Indian L and T Construction Manager Pravin Kumar Ganguly and Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum President Ashish Kumar Dey, among others, were present on the occasion.