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Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, a few months ago, launched the 29 kilometres circular waterway, stretching from Sadarghat to Ashulia. The waterway is to ease the pressure on the road through providing people with a cheaper and cleaner transportation facility.
The main objective of the project is to ease traffic congestion on the city roads. For the river to be navigable for cargo and passenger ships, it has to be eight feet deep even in the dry season. And we have come to know that it has alleviated traffic load on the Narayanganj to Dhaka land route significantly. This also reduces carrying cost. The river route also helps improve transportation of goods, particularly essentials like rice and vegetables.
This is an important step towards development. This waterway provides an opportunity to find out real Bangladesh, a chance to discover the country's immense beauty and potentiality. I have seen a great number of people now using the route.
In urban life, we are very busy and the city dwellers frequently go to
enjoy the journeys in the river. Lots of people are now spending their holidays here. And the two-day holiday is another opportunity for them to enjoy it. Travelling along the route, the city's people are freeing themselves from the tensions and pressures of busy life.
However, there are complaints that in some parts of the waterway, the boats and launches face problem because of shallow water. Navigation and dredging will increase depth as well as flow of water along this route. If properly maintained, we think it may also become an important place for fish farming.
Zareen Rafa
Niketon, Gulshan
Dhaka
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