Govt takes programme to re-excavate 53 rivers

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told in Parliament Tuesday that government has taken up a massive project to re-excavate 53 rivers across the country aimed at bringing back their navigability, reports BSS. "The project is waiting for the ECNEC approval and I hope it would be implemented soon as the government has given priority to protecting the river ports and rivers' navigability," he said replying to a question raised by treasury bench member Kamal Ahmed Majumder on behalf of Benazir Ahmed. He also informed in Parliament that the government would try to establish a river port in Ameen Bazar or Savar area by excavating the Bongshai River, as it is a busy business spot on the outskirt, of the capital. While answering to a query of ruling party lawmaker Sanjida Khatun, the Shipping Minister said the government has constituted a high-powered taskforce to free the rivers from the grabbers and it (taskforce) is conducting regular drives to recover the riverside lands. But, he said, strong mass awareness is a must so that the rivers could not be grabbed again. In replying to another query of Awami League lawmaker M Motiur Rohman, Shahjahan Khan said BIWTA is conducting dredging in the rivers across the country under its annual maintenance programme to keep the water routes alive. He, however, said the government has no plan to lease out the river ports to the private sector as those are being run smoothly under the government management. Referring to the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Jahan Moni by Somali pirates, Shahjahan Khan said the owner of the vessel is talking with the hijackers and it is expected that it would be rescued and the captive crew released.