BIWTC’s 101 vessels in operation: Minister

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has been providing service with 101 water transports across the country, shipping minister Shajahan Khan said.

“We have 181 water transports in the BIWTC fleet and 101 transports are in operation,” the minister said while replying to a question from treasury bench member Sadhan Chandra Majumder of Naogaon-1 in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday, state news agency BSS reports.

The government has procured and repaired 151 water transports to the BIWTC fleet for improving river route service, the minister said adding that the government brought and repaired 19 ferries, 10 pontoons, two passenger vessels, 12 water buses, four sea trucks and four container ships alongside 10 water transport for aid to the BIWTC fleet.

“The BIWTC is providing service on eight ferry routes across the country and on an average more than 7,500-8,000 motor transports are being ferried per day,” the minister told the parliament.

He said said some eight water transports are under manufacturing at a cost of Tk 168.1 million.