'Navigable river routes shrinking alarmingly'

Participants in a seminar held in Barisal yesterday emphasized keeping river routes navigable for development of the southern region.
“Water ways are the sources of transportation, business, agriculture, irrigation in the southern region and sustainable progress of the region is not possible without proper maintenance of these routes and development of river ports,” speakers said at the seminar.
In view of modern concept of river management, hydrological and hydro-geographical survey and regular monitoring of these routes and proper dredging activities under a long-term sustainable master plan round the year could be the only solution of this problem, they said.
The seminar titled Upekkhito Noupath: Badhagrastho Dakkhinanchaler Unnoyon (Neglected water transportation route: Obstructed development of southern region) was organised by regional daily Ajker Paribarton and MV Kirtonkhola-1 launch company at Celebration Point Auditorium in the city.
In 1971, there were about 24,000-kilometre water transport routes in Bangladesh but it has reduced to 6,000 kilometres in summer and 3,800 kilometres in winter at present, speakers said at the seminar.
With outdated equipment and inadequate budget, BIWTA is facing difficulty to keep the river routes navigable round the year.
Abdul Mannan Howladar, chairman Bangadesh Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) was the chief guest while a few persons including renowned nature conservancy activist Prof Dwijen Sharma were special guests in the seminar.