The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The increasing trend of journey by water transports specially in the dry season is likely to open up a new horizon to develop the tourism sector in the country.

"The domestic tourism can be developed as a vibrant financial sector as many other things are inter linked with it," an official of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Development Corporation (BIWTC) said on Sunday.

He said every year the demand for making tours by steamers of the BIWTC is increasing day-by-day but the corporation cannot spare any of its five steamers for other purposes than the regular services.

The official said the BIWTC, private launch owners and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation with the help of law-enforcing authorities can take joint efforts to develop the water transport as a commercial sector after completion of various related studies.

He told BSS that they had been receiving many phone calls throughout the year specially in the winter season for inquiring about the fare for hiring a ship for excursion, bridal party or other purposes.

A public transport serving common people cannot be withdrawn for the other purposes, the BIWTC official said.

At present, either BIWTC or Launch Owners Association doesn't have any separate data on the number of domestic tours by water transports.

During the winter season, some individuals either in groups or in families have to make journeys between Dhaka and Khulna by BIWTC steamers, and between Dhaka and Barisal by launches, the source said.

Only some desperate people some times hire engine-run country boats to meet their purposes.

The official said though the normal water routes are shrinking due to the non-navigability, the private launch services still remain as a profitable business. So, the private owners at the moment are not interested in shifting their business.

At present, the total length of navigable routes has shrunk to about 4,000 kilometres from the original length of 25,000 kilometres, according to the official statistics.

On an average, a total of two crore people use water transports annually, Bangladesh Launch Owner Association President Mohammad Kalimullah said adding that the number of launches of different sizes is about 1,200, which have been running on the 250 routes.

On every Eid festival, the launches alone carry over 20 lakh passengers, the official said.

Throughout the year, the river transport system has become more safer than the road transports, he claimed.