Three more utility-type ferries for Paturia-Doulotdia route

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said Wednesday another three utility type ferries (small) will be added to the Paturia-Doulotdia ferry route of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) by June this year.

He also said three new ferry routes will be launched for the sake of river route passengers and ferrying vehicles while four ferries will be dedicated for garment product transportation and utilising Mongla Port.

The minister disclosed this while addressing the inaugural function of two new utility type ferries for the Paturia-Doulatdia route, said a press release.

These two ferries named 'Madhobilota' and 'Bonolata' have been included for reducing the hassle of passengers of the route and as a part of government initiative of capacity building in the ferry sector.

The new ferry routes will be Bahadurabad of Jamalpur-Balashi ghat of Gaibandha, Abupur haat of Goshairhat upazila under Shariatpur-Mridhar haat of Muladi upazila under Barisal and Narayanganj-Matlab of Chandpur.

Mr Khan said: "Seven ferries have been included during the tenure of the last government and as part of that tenure these two ferries have been included. Another three will be added by June this year."

Narayanga nj Engineering and Ship Building Ltd made these two ferries and the cost of each ferry is Tk 72.472 million. Each of the ferries will be able to carry 10 trucks/cars with a speed of 16.67 km per hour.

With these newly included two ferries the total number of ferries on this route is 15.

The minister said: "Two new utility ferries will be included on the Bhekuria of Jhalakathi-Pirojpur ferry route while a modern steamer service will be opened on the Dhaka-Barisal route by next month."

"Four special ferries will be built for Barisal-Chittagong coastal route," he said.

"Night navigation service will be introduced on the Paturia-Kazirhat ferry route. A Ro Ro (big) ferry will be added to the BIWTC ferry service in December this year and two K type (middle) ferries will be built by next year," he added.

BIWTC Chairman Mojibor Rahman presided over the programme and local lawmaker Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Shipping joint secretary Md Sohrab Hossain Sheikh spoke, among others.