• Engr. Rabindra Ranjan Saha, PEng
• Md. Tanvir Ahmed
• Rokhshana Parvin

Bangladesh is a land of 1007 rivers of varying nature and have different hydraulic characteristics. There are about 24,000 km of waterways as a relatively cost -effective means of transport. Out of which Class-I: 683 km, Class -II :1000 km, Class -III; 1885 km and Class-IV: 2400 km. These rivers discharge about 0.2 million m3/s of water during the flood and 2.4 billion tons of silts are flown annually through the rivers which is 18.5% of the total silts 12.50 billion of the world. Due to the movement of silts about 18.5% of the total silts of the world causing deposition of huge quantity of the same on the river bed causing hind plying of water transport. Then it becomes utmost necessary to resuscitate navigability by dredging river bed. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is mandated to maintain and develop waterways. BIWTA cannot able to perform the expected dredging owing to various reasons like paucity of budget allocation and dredging equipment. This research is conducted with the objectives to identify the present situation of the navigable waterways network in Bangladesh and to determine the constraints/problems of navigable waterways and its mitigation. To achieve the objectives, methodology adopted are visiting of dredging sites. Study Hydrographic survey charts, dredging alignment etc. Conduct Questionnaire survey with concerned officials of BIWTA, stakeholders and Association of launch and cargo vessel owners. Collected data analyzed and found that BIWTA is mandated authority to maintain and develop the waterways all over Bangladesh. BIWTA has only 40 Cutter Suction Dredgers (CSD) with capacity ranges from 250 to 1400 m3/h. From 2011-2012 to 2021-2022 BIWTA carried out 64.51 million m3 sediments. On the other hand, total annual dredging capacity of Bangladesh is 84.65 million m3 whereas yearly requirement of dredging is 165.51 million m3. Hence every year dredging shortfall stands 80.86 million m3. To cope up this shortfall Bangladesh needs more 76 dredgers above 211. Total annual average budget allocation for both revenue and Annual Development Program (ADP) are 3544.18 million Bangladesh Taka (BDT) for dredging against requirement 4435.56 million BDT respectively. Due to the budget paucity, dredging of channel hampered, resulting reduction of its navigability and die day by day. There are only 211 dredgers in Bangladesh owned by both the government and private sector whereas total dredger requirement for Bangladesh is about 500, and for Delta 2100, Bangladesh will have to procure an additional 2,000 dredgers over the next 20 years. To resuscitate the navigability of the rivers, preparation of extensive dredging action program and implementation are necessary. To implement this dredging action plan government should look into required budget allocation for procurement of dredgers with ancillary equipment. Otherwise, waterways will lose its navigability and in course of time the dyeing of rivers will increase causing decrease of plying water transport and in transit and inter-country traffic.

Waterways, navigability, sediment/silt, modal share, dredging, dredger, budget, draught, IWT, resuscitate, maintenance and development, ADP, Revenue, constraints

"Navigational Problems and Its Mitigation in Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 1, page no.e68-e81, January-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2401408.pdf

"Navigational Problems and Its Mitigation in Bangladesh", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 1, page no. ppe68-e81, January-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2401408.pdf