Tk4,168cr project on cards to dredge 4 rivers

The Ministry of Shipping has undertaken a massive project to dredge four rivers in a bid to restore their navigability, improve transportation services, ensure smooth water flow, and further develop the flood management system.

The shipping ministry sent a project proposal to the Planning Commission in this regard, seeking approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) to dredge the rivers Jhenai, Ghaghat, Bangshi and Nagda, said a senior official of the planning ministry.

Providing further details, the official said, “The cost of this project is estimated at Tk 4,168 crore, which will come from the government exchequer. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will implement the initiative by June 2026.”

“We have already held a Project Evaluation Committee meeting on the project, cleared it and then sent a proposal for ECNEC approval.”

According to the proposal, the navigability of the rivers will be improved and restored through dredging at the confluences of these four rivers. This initiative will ensure smooth and uninterrupted navigation in those waterways throughout the year.

The banks of these rivers will be protected from the flood too, it added.

River Ghaghat is flowing from Nilphamari to Gaibandha, River Bangshi from Jamalpur to Keraniganj in Dhaka, River Jhenai from Sherpur to Tangail, and River Nagda can be found in Gazipur District.

These four rivers have been silted for a long time without any dredging, mentions the project proposal.

Main components of this project are 2,164.50 km hydrographic survey, 505.5 lakh square metres engineering survey, 2,000 hectares crop compensation, construction of 140 lakh cubic meters soil dyke, excavation of 329.50 million cubic meters by BIWTA dredger, 6.37 km river bank conservation dam.

River Ghaghat starts from Teesta River in Kaimari union of Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district and falls into River Jamuna in Kanchipara union of Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district. The length of the river is 192 km.

River Bangshi originates from old River Brahmaputra in Hamidpur of Jamalpur Sadar and falls into River Dhaleshwari at West Hazratpur of Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka district. The length of the river is 260 km. Under the project, 63 km of the river will be excavated from Fortnagar in Savar to Nayahat-Dhamrai-Shailan-Kalampur-Kushura-Balia-Rajapur.

River Jhenai originates from the old Brahmaputra River in Kamarchar Union of Sherpur District and flows into Nagbari Union of Kalihati Upazila of Tangail District under the names Fatikjani and Chapai. The length of the Jinai River in Bangladesh is 142 km.

River Nagda originates from River Shitalakhya near Char Sindur union of Palash upazila of Gazipur district and falls into River Balu in Baria union of Sadar upazila of the same district. The length of the river is 22 km.