Shipping minister refutes allegation of river filling

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday refuted former Chittagong city Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury's allegation of filling up the river Karnaphuli in the name of capital dredging.
The minister said the river is being dredged following the guidelines set by Buet experts and once dredging is complete, the width of the river will increase by 100 metres to 130 metres in different places.
Shahjahan was addressing a press briefing following the 7th meeting of the Advisory Committee of Chittagong Port held at the port's training centre.
Mohiuddin Chowdhury, at a press briefing on March 24, alleged that a large portion of the river Karnaphuli has been filled up in the name of capital dredging and that the width of river has immensely shrunk at different places.
However, the minister yesterday claimed that the river has not shrunk in any area but anyone can mistake the temporary embankments created by sand to easily dredge the river.