Dredging of Padma river begins

RAJSHAHI, Mar 25 (BSS): The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has started dredging of Padma river near Rajshahi city aims at bringing back its navigability.

"We will carry out the dredging works till next mid-June," said Golam Sarwar, Superintending Engineer of Dredger Operation Circle under the BWDB in the city on Monday last.

BWDB Superintending Engineer Aminul Haque Bhiyan said the dredging activities are being implemented with an estimated cost of Tk 570 million.

A six-kilometer area will be brought under dredging in the preliminary stage. More than 2.6 million square-meter soils from Sonaikandi to Pathanparea areas will be removed.

Rajshahi City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton told the journalists here on Sunday that there is a plan of installing an international river port in Rajshahi for enhancing trade with India on river route.

He said Bangladesh and India will jointly implement the venture and necessary discussion was held between the two countries. An Indian delegation will come to Rajshahi soon to visit the area physically.

The city mayor added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the initiative of installing international river port in Rajshahi. The dredging activities were started to this end. Through the capital dredging, navigability is expected to remain for eight to ten months.