Over 55% waterways no longer functional: DCCI

More than half of Bangladesh’s rivers and canals have lost their functionality, forcing around 77 percent of the country’s freight transport onto roads, making logistics significantly more expensive and environmentally damaging, according to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Historically, the country’s canal network spanned 24,000 kilometres. Now, more than 55 percent of it is silted or encroached.

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The condition of more than 1,415 rivers across Bangladesh has become “extremely alarming” following decades of neglect, unplanned encroachment and siltation, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said.

He presented the keynote paper at a seminar titled “Reviving Bangladesh’s Circular Waterways and the Role of Canal Excavation Programmes in Expanding Inland Water Trade” on Wednesday.

Transporting goods by waterways costs 55-60 percent less than by road and is four to six times more fuel-efficient, reducing business operating costs substantially, said DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said Dhaka’s canals, once the city’s economic lifelines, have become largely unusable because of encroachment and pollution.

To restore waterways, the government has launched a programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals nationwide, he said, adding that ensuring interconnectivity among the canals will be crucial to maximising the programme’s benefits.

The minister said committees comprising local government representatives and relevant agencies have been formed to ensure the successful implementation and long-term conservation of the canal excavation initiative.

He pledged stricter action against industrial waste dumping into rivers, adding that the government is working to provide technological support so that small industries can install Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) at affordable costs.

The nationwide canal excavation programme holds significant promise, Taskeen said. If implemented successfully, it would contribute to flood control, improved irrigation, the revival of river-based rural economies and stronger economic growth.

He also noted that transporting goods by waterways costs 55 to 60 percent less than by road and is four to six times more fuel-efficient, reducing business operating costs substantially.

“There is no alternative to developing an integrated transportation network based on the 112-kilometre waterway connecting the four rivers surrounding Dhaka,” he said.

He called for effective planning and implementation to unlock the economic potential of inland waterways, stronger coordination among government agencies and greater private-sector investment in the sector.

During the panel discussion, Architect Iqbal Habib, co-founder of Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd and vice president of the Safety Awareness Foundation (SAF), stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted river flow by avoiding the construction of low-height culverts and bridges across waterways.

Noting that nearly 15 government agencies are involved in river management without a single lead authority, he called for establishing a dedicated institution with clear authority and accountability, alongside strengthening the National River Conservation Commission.

Mohammed Abed Hossain, professor at the Institute of Water and Flood Management at BUET, said implementation of inland waterway projects is often delayed by overlapping institutional responsibilities.

He stressed the need to clearly define the mandates of relevant agencies and effectively implement a sound waste management policy for river conservation.

Md Taneem Sarwar, senior specialist and head (Design) at the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), said rivers are becoming narrower due to encroachment while simultaneously losing navigability because of sedimentation.

He emphasised coordinated action and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other modern technologies to demarcate river boundaries and monitor changes in river courses.

Md Motaleb Hossain Sarker, acting executive director of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), proposed establishing an effective river management commission to oversee river-related activities.

He also recommended attracting investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to modernise river-based infrastructure.

Mohammad Alamgir, principal scientific officer (Environment, Forest and Fisheries) at the Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO), said integrated planning and effective monitoring of river management infrastructure remain inadequate and called for greater attention to the issue.