Reliable maritime transports to help speed up economy: Inu

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has said if the maritime transports system is made safe and reliable, it will inject new momentum into the economy, reports BSS.

The minister was speaking at a rally at BIWTA terminal at Sadarghat in the city on Friday. The rally demanded that May 23 be declared National Maritime Safety Day.

Promising to take up the issue with the cabinet, Mr Inu said the government was taking the issues of unfit water vessels, inefficient manpower and overloading seriously.

The information minister said the waterways should be freed from illegal occupants, pollution and dredging is urgently required for navigability.

Among others, launch owner and former parliamentarian Golam Kibria Tipu, athletes and environmentalists spoke at the rally.