STAR BUSINESS DESK

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) yesterday urged the government to accelerate the development of inland waterway infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business and improve trade logistics across the country.

The call came during a courtesy meeting between DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, according to a press release.

During the meeting, Ahmed said that as a riverine country, Bangladesh has historically relied on inland waterways as one of the most cost-effective modes of transporting industrial raw materials and goods.

However, the sector’s full potential remains untapped due to challenges such as siltation and illegal encroachment on rivers.

He stressed the need for planned dredging activities, riverbank recovery and necessary infrastructural development to ensure efficient and affordable logistics facilities for businesses.

The DCCI president said the government’s initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometres of water bodies over the next five years would significantly boost inland water transport, lower business costs and support irrigation, agricultural productivity and overall economic growth.

He also said strategic utilisation of waterways surrounding the capital through proper management of an approximately 112-kilometre circular route connecting the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya and Dhaleshwari rivers could serve as an alternative transport network and help ease traffic congestion in Dhaka.

Ahmed further proposed greater private sector involvement under public-private partnerships (PPP) in dredging operations and canal excavation activities.

In response, the water resources minister said the government remained committed to the sustainable development of inland waterways. He added that several initiatives had already been undertaken, and called for private sector participation in the nationwide canal excavation programme.