Water bus service to be relaunched around capital within 3 months: Minister

The government would relaunch water bus services in the 110-kilometre circular waterway around the capital within the next two-three months, said Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam during a parliamentary session on Monday.

He said the service was launched around a decade ago, but had to be halted at numerous points after the scheme incurred losses worth Tk5.7 crore annually, the minister said in reply to a question from Kishoreganj-2 lawmaker Mujibur Rahman.

Now the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has identified the problems and working to relaunch the services within the next three months, he added.

As many as 424 pollution points have been identified, where chemical waste and solid waste are being discharged at an alarming rate. A comprehensive initiative has already been taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to de-pollute the five rivers around Dhaka, and increase their navigability.

The forthcoming water buses would operate in the rivers Turag, Buriganga, Shitalakkhya and Balu, along with the wider waterway network around Dhaka city, Shaikh Rabiul Alam said.