Published: 12:08 AM, 12 August 2026
First ever nationwide vessel census begins from Aug 20
State Minister for Shipping Md Rajib Ahsan on Tuesday said the first ever 10-day long nationwide vessel census-2026 will begin from June 20 aiming to develop safe, well-organized and efficient water transport system.
The state minister said while speaking at the inaugural function of three-day long training programme of the coordinators who are responsible for information collection of the census at Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Bhaban, reports BSS.
With the assistance by the BBS, the Ministry of Shipping will begin the census from June 20 and it will continue till June 29.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki attended the function as the chief guest.
Shipping secretary Zakaria, Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Md Firoz Sarkar, Director General of the Shipping Department Commodore M Shafiul Bari and Director General of the BBS M Shamimul Huq also attended the function as the special guests. The state minister said, "Bangladesh is a riverine country. The relations of rivers and waterways with the economy, trade, commerce and peoples livelihood are very much deep.
But we still could not exploit the potentials of the waterways fully."
He said the burden of passengers and commodity transportation through the road is gradually rising.
The vessel consensus will help to find out a full-fledged information about the real number of the water vessels, types of the vessel, use and ownership of the vessels. Based on the collected information, an effective initiative will be possible to take future plan of the river transport sector, policy making and to ensure safe and disciplined navigation.
Congratulating the BBS for enhancing cooperation for implementing the important and challenging activities like the vessel census, Rajib Ahsan said the government is working to develop modern, safe and people's friendly water transport system along with reviving the lost heritage of the waterways.
Mentioning the Prime Minister's instruction to increase network of the waterways, he said the development of the waterways and its maximum use will be ensured according to the priority of the government.
Taking part in the programme, the state minister for planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said the present government is an elected government and working sincerely for the welfare of the people.
Reliable information and data is very much essential for formulating proper policy and planning, he said, adding that there is no alternative of accurate statistics for socio-economic development and effective planning of the country.
He said the present government is giving special importance to the waterways as the waterways are vital for cost-effective cargo transportation.
