In a historic bid to ease mounting cargo and passenger pressure on the country’s roads and tap into underutilised economic potential of its river network, the government is set to conduct first-ever national watercraft census from 20 to 29 August.
The landmark initiative, designed to lay the foundation for a safe, orderly, and modern maritime transit system, was announced on Tuesday by the State Minister for Shipping Md Rajib Ahsan.
He was presiding over the inauguration of a three-day training programme at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) for coordinators tasked with collecting census data.
Emphasising the strategic necessity of the project, Ahsan noted that while Bangladesh’s trade, lifestyle, and economy are deeply tied to its rivers, the true potential of these waterways remains largely neglected.
To alleviate the critical pressure on road networks, the government is prioritizing the expansion and effective use of waterways for commerce, freight, passenger transit, and tourism to inject fresh momentum into the national economy.
“The census will provide a reliable, comprehensive picture of the actual numbers, types, usage, and ownership of vessels across the country,” the state minister noted, explaining that this baseline data is vital for future policy formulation and maritime safety.
He also highlighted Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s special emphasis on boosting waterway connectivity as a core national priority.
Attending as the chief guest, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki, welcomed the initiative and issued a stern warning against any data manipulation or discrepancies.
He declared that immediate and strict legal action would be taken if any irregularities, mismatch, or inconsistency are uncovered during the data collection process.
Saki urged BBS coordinators to maintain the highest levels of professionalism, transparency, and neutrality.
Noting that waterways offer a highly cost-effective alternative for bulk cargo transport, he expressed full confidence in BBS’s capacity to execute the historic census successfully.
The launch ceremony was also attended by Shipping Secretary Md Zakaria, Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md Firoz Sarker; Shipping Department Director General Commodore Md Shafiul Bari, and BBS Director General Md Shamimul Haque.
