Posted on October 19, 2026
Near about Tk 333 crore modern food silo stands on the bank of the Kirtankhola River in the Barishal city. Built to store food grains and support emergency supplies, the facility is yet to start transporting rice by river due to poor navigability near its jetty.
Dredging began on Friday to restore navigability in front of the jetty. Officials hope the work will open the way for river transport and help the silo operate at full capacity.
The silo, built on around seven acres of land in the Trish Godown area, was inaugurated on August 10, 2025. It has 16 bins and a total storage capacity of 48,000 tonnes of rice. The project was designed to improve food storage in the southern region and ensure supplies during cyclones, floods and tidal surges. But the lack of navigability has left a key part of the plan unrealised.
Tarikul Islam, assistant engineer of the contractor, said dredging had begun along a stretch of about 300 metres in front of the silo. Once work near the 170-metre jetty is complete, dredging will begin in the main channel of the Kirtankhola.
Rakesh Biswas, acting supervisor of the silo, said the silo needs 42 officers and employees to operate fully. In September, approval was given for 31 posts, including five cadre and 26 non-cadre positions. Until then, 20 staff members deputed from other silos had been running its operations.
Rakesh Biswas said security staffs are also in short supply. The authorities had sought 15 Ansar members but received approval for 12 from the Ministry of Finance. Due to the shortage, employees have to guard the facility at night after completing their daytime duties. There have also been several theft incidents in the area, he said.
The silo is also facing difficulties in meeting operating costs. With no dedicated allocation, it has relied on funds from the Mongla silo to pay electricity bills. Some bills for loading and unloading workers and other daily expenses remain unpaid.
Officials are seeking funds through the introduction of a separate economic code. They expect regular allocations to ease the payment of electricity bills, wages and other operating costs. The silo currently holds 3,057 tonnes of rice, according to Nakib Sad Saiful Islam, Regional Food Controller in Barishal. This is a small share of its total capacity.
Saiful Islam said food warehouses across the division currently hold 1.09 lakh tonnes of rice, around 74 per cent of the target. However, no separate storage target has yet been set for the Barishal silo, limiting regular stockpiling there.
Officials say dredging alone will not ensure the facility’s full use. Regular storage targets, transport arrangements and a clear distribution plan will also be needed, particularly during disasters when roads may become unusable.
Mohammad Touhidul Islam Shahzada, executive director of the food security-focused NGO Prantajan Trust, said the silo offered an important opportunity for the southern region. He said restoring river access and completing the necessary administrative preparations could create an alternative route for food supplies during emergencies.
