6 water buses launched

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said Sunday despite counting loss, six water buses have been introduced to make communication system convenient for the people, reports BSS.
"We are introducing the water buses to give the city dwellers relief from traffic jams," he told at a function on the occasion of launching of the water buses at Sadarghat External Terminal Ghat in the city.
Lawmaker Kazi Feroz Rashid, additional secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Rafiqul Islam, officials and representatives of different organisations concerned, among others, addressed the function with Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Mizanur Rahman in the chair.
Shajahan said, "Ideally, the water buses have been introduced for welfare of people. So, our main aim is to provide services to the people on the river route."
Branding river communication as a low-cost mode of communication, he said the country has immense potentiality of popularising river communication among the people.
"Taking this into account, we are implementing various programmes for improvement of river communication," he added.
Around Tk 8.50 million (85 lakh) has been spent for making each water bus and total cost of six water buses is Tk 51.10 million. Each water bus can carry 46 passengers.