The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) says it added 114km of navigable waterways in fiscal 2025-26 and expanded river ports, terminals and navigation aids, according to a BIWTA press release published by The Business Standard on 11 October 2026. The figures below are the authority’s own.
BIWTA said the country’s waterways now total about 8,142km in the monsoon and 6,742km in the dry season, and that 60km were added through capital dredging under a 180-day action plan. Two new river ports, at Dhunat and Sariakandi, bring the total to 56.
Terminals and safety
The authority reported building launch terminals at Basila and Shimulia and a ferry terminal at Shimulia, modernising 13 launch terminals, producing 1,000 navigational aids and training more than 800 crew members. A Chairman Ghat–Hatiya ferry service has started. Under the Bangladesh–India Protocol route, BIWTA said 4.3 million tonnes of cargo moved in 4,333 voyages in 2025-26.
Event date: 11 October 2026
Sources: This report summarises the following original reporting. Facts and quotations are attributed to these sources.
- The Business Standard (BIWTA press release), BIWTA adds 114km of waterways, expands river ports and navigation facilities (11 October 2026)
More from Inland Waterways (BIWTA).
File photo: the Meghna river. Photo: Alrazy Sonet / CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
This article is a summary prepared by Maritime News BD from the report(s) listed above; it was not independently reported by Maritime News BD.
