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Develop waterways for economic growth: analysts

Star Business Report
Bangladesh should move faster to develop its largely overlooked inland waterways for transportation of containers and containerised cargoes for boosting economic growth and foreign trade, experts and industry-people said yesterday.
The observations came at a business seminar, "Transportation of Export-Import Containers through IWT: Challenges and Opportunities", organised by Shipwrights Bangladesh Ltd, a private container handling consultancy farm, at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka.
The country has one of the largest inland waterway networks in the world, with some 700 rivers and tributaries with an overall 24,000 kilometre-long network crisscrossing the country, connecting almost all of its cities, towns and commercial centres.
But with the space of time and ignorance in maintenance dredging, the 12,000 km of classified waterways in 1970 have now dwindled to almost 6,000 km, as the inland water transport network has received little attention from the subsequent governments.
Bangladesh can raise its gross domestic product by 1 percent and foreign trade by 20 percent if the inland water transport logistics systems are made efficient and competitive, according to an Asian Development Bank report.
Transport expert M Rahmatullah said over the years Bangladesh has neglected its waterways system and railway. "Even
the donors are now saying that they have made a mistake."
"Waterways are a critical mode of transport. Although the authorities acknowledge its importance, but we do not see any development to this effect."
"Why can't we have two tracks on Dhaka-Chittagong railway line when donors' funds are lying idle?" he questioned. "It will take two to three years to develop the double rail track to carry containers even if we start now."
"Even if the rail network is developed, they will be able to carry 25 percent of
containers. So, there is no way for us to overlook inland water system."
Rahmatullah said the inland container depot in Pangaon, Narayanganj has not been ready for operation although its construction began fewyears back.
"The government needs to look at the issue seriously."
To carry a tonne of goods a kilometre, it costs Tk 5 on the road network, Tk 2.1 through the railway system and Tk 1 on inland waterways, he said.
Mahboob Ahmed, managing director of Shipwrights Bangladesh, said the coun-
try should move to inland waterways for transportation of containers and containerised cargo.
He said most of the freight and passenger traffic move on a congested two-lane highway and on a capacity and equipment constrained railway system.
"Even with a four-lane expansion, the corridor highway will not be able to cope with the increasing traffic."
Ahmed said the advantages for the stakeholders in river terminals around Dhaka include: cut-off time for export shipment can be brought down to six hours or less; exported loose cargoes can be stuffed in containers closer to home under self control.
He said imported cargoes can also be de-stuffed closer to home and brought to respective warehouses within city limits in short spell without fear of pilferage or damage on the way.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said Rupayan Port and Pangaon container terminal would ready for commercial operation by 2013.
Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Howlader said the country's waterways transport sector was neglected unrealistically although it is cost effective and environment-friendly.
He said waterways accounted for only 4 percent of the Tk 59 crore allocated to the transport sector under the annual development programme in 2006-2007, whereas 80 percent went to road network.
"Now the government is paying attention to the sector, "he said.