Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Tuesday said measures would be taken to break the syndicate of middlemen controlling goods transportation via river-routes.
“To pursue the efforts, the shipping ministry will soon announce a ‘Goods Transportation Policy, 2024’ and ensure its proper execution,” he said during a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners’ Association (BCVOA) at his ministry office.
BCVOA President Sayeed Ahmed led the delegation at the meeting, reports BSS.
Mentioning that the interim government is committed to flourishing and safeguarding the shipping transportation industries, Sakhawat said all the systems in the country have been broken down in the last 15 years.
“Some unscrupulous traders have created chaos in the goods transportation sector through river-routes as they have monopolised this business for a long time by manipulating the serial system in the sector. We will break this syndicate of the middlemen to take the sector ahead,” he said.
Sakhawat said the waterways are immensely important for the advancement of the country’s economy as around 80 per cent goods are being transported via the routes at lower costs.
“So, we’ve taken measures to solve the crisis of the sector,” he said.
About vessels having no fitness, he said legal action would be taken against such vessels. If required, the Coast Guard would be entrusted with the task of taking action against those.
