Shipping, Road Transport and Bridges, and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said the government has undertaken extensive programs to free the rivers surrounding Dhaka from encroachment and pollution and develop their banks as environment-friendly, people-friendly and tourism-friendly areas.
He said a circular water transport system around Dhaka could be introduced if the ongoing programs were implemented quickly.
The minister made the remarks while joining regular walkers and marathon participants at the BIWTA Walkway Run 2026, organised by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) at Mohammadpur in the capital on Friday morning.
He said walkways had already been constructed at different locations along riverbanks while initiatives had been taken to complete missing links and extend the facilities to other areas.
Emphasising public participation, Rabiul said people's involvement was essential to protecting rivers and the environment.
BIWTA was implementing various initiatives to raise public awareness and encourage responsible behaviour.
Regarding river pollution, he said around 426 pollution sources had been identified, from where chemical, liquid and solid waste were being discharged into rivers. In coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, city corporations, WASA and other agencies, measures were underway to control these sources, he added.
The minister said the government also planned to introduce new water routes, modern vessels and river stations and terminals integrated with the road transport network.
Previous attempts to introduce circular passenger services had failed to achieve expected success, mainly due to longer travel times and river pollution, he noted. However, steps were now being taken to address these challenges, he said.
He expressed optimism that the initiatives would restore the vitality of Dhaka's surrounding rivers, expand river-based tourism and recreation, and create a cleaner environment for city residents.
Shipping Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman Khan, BIWTA Chairman Muhidul Islam and senior officials were present.
