Address corruption and enhance user-friendliness in shipping

Bangladesh is a riverine country, with a vast network of rivers and streams spreading across the land like a web. Our cities and villages have historically been built around these rivers, which have served as the primary means of communication for thousands of years. However, with the advent of modern road transport, river-based communication has been somewhat neglected. Despite this, many people in the country still rely on river travel. Waterways remain a viable option, particularly for transporting goods, as traveling by river is often less expensive, even though it may take more time. Unfortunately, the shipping sector in our country suffers not only from neglect but also from widespread corruption and irregularities.

According to a newspaper report published yesterday (September 7), the government lacks accurate data on the number of illegal boats operating in the country's rivers and seas. While government agencies report that there are 17,000 registered and legal boats, various surveys indicate that over 100,000 boats—both large and small—are in operation. Consequently, this means approximately 83,000 boats are operating illegally, making the number of illegal boats roughly five times greater than that of legal ones.

Consider what would happen if this number of illegal boats were on the road! On roads, high traffic leads to stringent supervision and regulation. Similarly, the situation on the water is also busy, and without proper government control and oversight, the chaos in this sector would only worsen.

We are aware that former Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan created a massive amount of corruption in this sector, embezzling thousands of crores of taka. He was recently apprehended, and his actions are expected to face just legal scrutiny.

Experts in the river and shipping sector point out that many of the operators of these illegal boats are unskilled and lack proper licenses. This situation increases the risks to the safety of seafarers and workers and heightens the likelihood of accidents. Small and large marine accidents are frequently occurring throughout the country. Moreover, the government is losing substantial revenue due to the lack of proper registration and oversight of these vessels.

It is alleged that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and certain dishonest officials and employees of the Directorate of Shipping are benefiting unethically from allowing a significant number of illegal boats to operate. This corruption is enabling these unauthorized vessels to continue their operations unchecked for an extended period. In light of the current situation, there is a growing demand for comprehensive reforms and regulations in the shipping sector, similar to those in other industries.

We urge for the swift elimination of irregularities and corruption in shipping. The sector needs modernization and a thorough overhaul. To alleviate pressure on road transport, we must enhance our reliance on maritime transport. Achieving this requires substantial government initiative and intervention. We expect the current government to address this issue with urgency and commitment.