The government is considering launching electric water buses along Dhaka’s 110-kilometre circular waterway as part of efforts to ease the capital’s chronic traffic congestion and develop an alternative public transport network.
Authorities are preparing a comprehensive plan and roadmap to revive passenger and tourist services along the waterway, which runs through the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakkhya, Balu and Dhaleshwari rivers.
A meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on July 1 decided to take coordinated measures to launch electric water bus services on the existing circular waterway within a month.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Chairman ATM Abdul Bari Danny said the authorities are preparing a roadmap to ensure the effective and organized operation of the proposed service.
“We have discussed the matter with the prime minister. We also discussed how the initiative can be operated in an efficient and well-organized manner. We are now preparing a final plan and roadmap, and we hope to operate it successfully in the future,” Danny told Dhaka Tribune.
Asked whether Bangladesh was considering solar-powered or electric vessels similar to those used in developed countries, Danny said electricity supply and utility-related matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
“The utility and electricity-related matters will be dealt with by the Ministry of Power. We cannot comment on this issue,” he said.
The proposed circular waterway stretches 110km around Dhaka, covering five rivers. Of the total route, 63km has a depth of 12 feet, while the remaining 47km has a depth of around eight feet. Conservation dredging is underway along a 10km stretch between Sirnichtek and Ashulia to increase its depth to 12 feet, while the remaining 37km is planned to be deepened gradually.
The waterway connects four river ports—Dhaka, Narayanganj, Tongi and Mirkadim—and has five terminals and nine landing stations, with 45 terminal and landing points in total.
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Buet transport expert Dr Md Hadiuzzaman said the circular waterway could only succeed if lessons from the previous initiative were addressed through a professionally prepared, integrated and institutionally coordinated plan.
“The new system should provide reliable feeder services, ensure frequent peak-hour operations, regulate vessel and cross-river traffic, and improve river water and environmental conditions,” he said.
The government is also looking to involve private operators in reviving the waterway.
At a July 9 meeting at the Ministry of Shipping, authorities decided to hold discussions with private entrepreneurs interested in operating commercial public transport on the Gabtoli-Sadarghat route.
BIWTA was asked to consult stakeholders and interested entrepreneurs and determine the next course of action.
At another meeting on July 14, BIWTA discussed high-speed launches and speedboats, passenger catamarans and tourist vessels with interested owners and operators.
Participants stressed the need to free Dhaka’s surrounding rivers from encroachment and pollution, establish modern landing stations, improve road connections and ensure adequate public transport links. Passenger safety was also identified as a priority.
Professor Dr Ainun Nishat, adviser at the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, said Dhaka’s inland waterways still have significant potential to ease traffic congestion.
He called for greater private-sector involvement, saying the government should focus on regulation, monitoring and accountability rather than directly managing every aspect of the system.
Nishat also criticised what he described as “projectitis” in Bangladesh’s development administration.
“Projectitis is a major problem in our development system. Ministries often become more interested in taking up projects than actually getting the work done. Once this unnecessary project-driven approach stops, real development can begin,” he said.
He said reviving waterways does not necessarily require mega projects, but rather targeted dredging, correction of sharp bends and regular maintenance.
Water bus services were launched on the Badamtoli-Gabtoli route on August 28, 2010 and the Narayanganj-Tongi route on November 22, 2014. Both services were eventually suspended due to financial losses—in September 2019 and March 2020 respectively.
A total of 12 water buses were constructed at a cost of Tk9.20 crore. According to BIWTC data, they generated Tk2.52 crore in revenue against expenditure of Tk37.87 crore, resulting in a loss of Tk35.35 crore.
The official assessment cited shorter road travel times, Buriganga pollution, traffic congestion around Sadarghat, poor connectivity to landing stations and inadequate infrastructure among the reasons for the service’s failure. Sand-carrying vessels also prevented water buses from maintaining their expected speed.
River pollution remains a major challenge. A recent BIWTA survey identified 424 outlets discharging liquid waste into rivers surrounding Dhaka, including 244 associated with privately owned factories and industrial establishments.
Authorities have decided to identify pollution points and ensure proper collection and disposal of waste generated by vessels.
Nishat said Dhaka’s waterway network must also be redesigned in line with changing transport technologies.
“We are entering the era of electric vehicles and modern transport technologies. We cannot build a new transport system with old ideas. Long-term planning, efficient management and private-sector expertise are essential to make Dhaka’s waterways viable,” he said.
The government is also considering smaller and more frequent vessels to reduce passenger waiting times.
The circular waterway already has 20km of completed walkway, while another 52km is under construction with 92% progress. A further 100km has been proposed.
Authorities have installed 6,320 boundary pillars against a target of 7,100. Between 2009 and 2024, 17,829 illegal structures were removed under Dhaka River Port, recovering 519.04 acres of riverbank land. Another 6,963 illegal structures were removed under Narayanganj River Port, recovering 316.06 acres.
The success of the new initiative will ultimately depend not merely on putting electric vessels on the water, but on integrating waterways with road transport, ensuring reliable landing facilities, maintaining navigability, controlling pollution and providing an affordable and efficient service.
