The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a seminar yesterday urged the government to formulate a proper river transport policy for bringing dynamism in this sector.

A short, medium and long-term policy is needed to protect and develop the river transport sector and river routes of the country, they emphasised.

They made this call at a seminar titled "Internal River Route: Problems and Solution " jointly organised by Journalists' Forum for Communication and Environment (JFCE) and Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) in the city's Paltan area.

Former Shipping Minister ASM Abdur Rab, President of Trade Union Centre (TUC) Nurul Islam, Vice Chairman of Internal River Transportation (Passenger) Organisation Sahabuddin Milon, Executive President of Bangladesh Farmers' Association Adv SMA Sabur, environmentalist Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary of Nagorik Songhati Sharifuzzaman Sharif, Secretary General of Citizen Rights Movement Tusar Rehman and Lunch Owner Badiuzzaman Badol among others, addressed the seminar.

Speakers demanded allocation of total Tk 500 crore for development of the river transport sector and at least Tk 60 crore in the national budget for dredging of rivers.

They said corruption should be removed from all branches of the river transport sector.

ASM Abdur Rab regretted the country could not adopt a proper river policy even 36 years after the liberation war.

He said continuous dredging of rivers is essential to facilitate save navigation though the country's rivers.

SMA Sabur said the drying up of rivers would impact badly on the country's agricultural production.