Dhaka: Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed has urged for a comprehensive, performance-oriented public-private partnership (PPP) framework to address the longstanding deterioration of Bangladesh’s rivers and canals. This neglect, according to Ahmed, is significantly impacting the nation’s economy by causing billions of dollars in annual losses due to inefficiencies and congestion.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Taskeen Ahmed presented these insights during a seminar at the DCCI Auditorium in Motijheel, where he discussed a paper titled ‘Revitalising Circular Waterways and Inland Trade’. Ahmed emphasized that Bangladesh’s extensive network of over 1,415 rivers and approximately 24,000 kilometers of historic canals is crucial for the country’s economic framework. Unfortunately, over 55% of these canals are either silted or encroached upon, severely affecting their utility.
Ahmed highlighted that the navigability of waterways during the dry season has reduced to just 3,865 kilometers from 6,000 kilometers during the monsoon season. Despite waterways being a more economical and environmentally friendly option, 77 percent of freight still relies on road transport. He underscored government data showing that the Ministry of Water Resources has been allocated Tk 10,533 crore, with only 42.77 percent of FY26 canal excavation and irrigation targets met so far.
A 180-day national program aims to excavate 1,204 kilometers by June, along with an additional 1,500 kilometers under relief-based re-excavation schemes. Furthermore, Ahmed discussed a broader five-year plan, part of the BNP’s election manifesto, which includes restoring 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals and reviving 520 vanished rivers, already underway in 54 districts.
Ahmed also cited the Sahapara pilot project as a successful model. This initiative has irrigated 1,200 hectares, increased crop yields by 60,000 tonnes, and benefited around 350,000 people by utilizing monsoon rainwater for dry-season irrigation, thus lessening farmers’ dependence on expensive deep-tube well electricity.
He pointed out that inland waterways are 55-60 percent cheaper than road transport for cargo movement between Dhaka and Chittagong and are four to eight times more energy-efficient per ton-kilometer. Yet, they account for only about 7 percent of national freight by weight-distance. Ahmed described the 112-kilometer Dhaka Circular Waterway as a missed opportunity due to issues like encroachment and funding priorities favoring mega-projects.
A shift of just 20 percent of truck freight to this corridor could alleviate Dhaka’s annual congestion losses, estimated between $3-7 billion. Ahmed referenced the Hatirjheel water taxi service as a proof of concept for urban waterway revival.
Challenges such as rapid re-siltation, land encroachment, inadequate financing, fragmented governance, environmental safeguards, and climate variability were identified by Ahmed as obstacles to sustainable waterway restoration. He proposed a nine-point roadmap including transitioning from short-term dredging contracts to longer-term PPP agreements, implementing unified water-trade legislation, utilizing GIS-based monitoring to prevent encroachment, establishing agro-logistics hubs, and formally recognizing trade bodies as partners in waterway policy-making.