Database of 20,376 small water transports in six dists prepared

The Shipping Ministry has collected data of 20,376 small water transports of six districts of the country under a pilot project and created a database of water transports plying there.
Of these, 6,127 small water transports are in Bhola, 4,728 in Barisal, 4,628 in Patuakhali, 3,414 in Shariatpur, 957 in Madaripur and 522 in Gopalganj.
The number of vessels was revealed at the closing ceremony of the pilot project at the conference room of the ministry on Monday.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan presided over the programme, said a press release.
The objectives of the pilot project were, among others, to create database of small water transports, to formulate recommendations for management system of small watercraft and to make registration easy.
Besides, the project aimed at giving training for skill development of operators, drivers and workers and setting up of modern technology-based computer lab at the Shipping Ministry.
According to the meeting sources, the ministry spent around Tk 280 million from 2012 to June 2014 for conducting seminars and training programmes at 40 upazilas of Gopalganj, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Barisal, Patuakali districts.
Shipping Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam, Department of Shipping director general M Zakiur Rahman Bhuiyan and Project Director Bholanath Dey spoke at the function.