Manpower Shortage Hits Dredging Projects

Fifty-three important river routes, including the Mongla-Ghashikhali channel, under the capital dredging project are on the verge of closure due to shortage of manpower to run dredgers, sources in the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said. The BIWTA is implementing the project at a cost of Tk 1,873.64 crore. The project deadline was fixed at June 2018, but it will be missed due to shortage of manpower, apprehended a senior official at the BIWTA.

“We’ve to give up our projects if the government doesn’t hire more employees to run the dredgers. We’re waiting for the government’s decision,” Saidur Rahman, superintendent engineer (dredging) of the BIWTA, told The Independent. The BIWTA has long been trying to resolve the problem through the proper authorities, he said, adding that the department is now facing serious manpower crisis to implement the project. “Dredging is normally done during the dry season. It’s high time the river is dredged to restore its navigability considering national interest. We’re also implementing some of the Prime Minister’s priority projects,” Rahman observed. He said the BIWTA has proposed to create 487 posts against the approved 126.

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