Pabna, Nov 08 (V7N) — Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labor and Employment, has emphasized the importance of keeping waterways operational due to the poor condition of highways across the country.

He made the remarks at the inauguration of the Nagarbari River Port Modern Terminal Complex in Pabna on Saturday (November 8). “In the past, rivers were the primary means of travel. Improving roads with the current condition will take another 20 years, and even after renovations, the problems will recur. In this situation, waterways must be desilted to transport containers to this river port via lighter ships,” he said.

The program was presided over by BIWT Chairman Comrade Arif Ahmed Mostafa, with Delwara Begum, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, also present.

The Nagarbari River Port Modern Terminal Complex was originally initiated in 2018 on the banks of the Jamuna River at Nagarbari Ghat in Bera Upazila, spanning 36 acres at a cost of Tk 563 crore. The four-year project, initially scheduled for completion in June 2022, faced delays due to land acquisition and other complications, extending the timeline twice.

The river port, equipped with modern facilities, features a 360-meter concrete jetty, terminal, warehouse, godown, buffer godown, open shed, and open stage, enabling efficient loading and unloading of goods.

END/SMA/AJ