Short and long-term planning is a must to prevent encroachment, save rivers, and ensure passenger safety, Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury said Wednesday.
"The government is determined to save rivers," he said a discussion on Naval Safety Week 2019, organized jointly by Water Transport Ministry and Water Transport Department at Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (Cirdap) auditorium.
He urged the stakeholders to work in collaboration for solving the issues. The chief whip told the ship owners to work for passenger safety, reports UNB.
State Minister for Water Transport Khalid Mahmud said that in the last 10 years, water transport sector has seen unprecedented changes.
"We have launched cruise ship on international route despite many limitations of government," he added.
He mentioned that currently there are 40 dredgers at the government's disposal with 35 more waiting to be added.
Noted writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud said everyone needs to work coherently to keep rivers pollution and occupation free.
"The media can play vital role to create awareness among the public," he added.
The discussion was presided by Secretary of Water Transport Ministry Md Abdus Samad while former BIWTA chairman Dr Reaz Hasan Khondoker presented the keynote paper.