About Us                                                 Bangla version

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)
 

Brief

To set up Authority for development, maintenance and control of inland water transport and of certain inland navigable waterways the then East Pakistan Government on 31st October 1958 promulgated an ordinance called the East Pakistan Inland water Transport Authority Ordinance 1958 (E.P. Ordinance, NO LXXV of 1958). On November 4, 1958 the Government by an order constituted a three member Authority of East Pakistan Inland Water Transport Authority (EPIWTA). The BIWTA came in to existence on promulgation of the above ordinance 1958 as the successor of the former EPIWTA. An advisory committee have subsequently been constituted to advise the authority in respect of all matters related to development, maintenance and operation of inland water transport and of inland waterways in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has about 24,000 km. of rivers, streams and canals that together cover about 7% of the country's surface. Most part of the country is linked by a complex network of waterways which reaches its extensive size in the monsoon period. Out of 24,000 km. of rivers, streams and canals only about 5,968 km. is navigable by mechanized vessels during monsoon period which shrinks to about 3,865km. during dry period. The IWT sector carries over 50% of all arterial freight traffic and one quarter of all passenger traffic.

Organogram

Top Management

BIWTA consists of one Chairman and two other Members who directly control 14 different departments. Each department is headed by a Director or its equivalent. The organogram of the Authority is given below.
 

Manpower

There are 4,287 posts in the present set up of the organization approved by the Government. Of these, 575 are officers and 3,712 are staff and workers which are given below:

The activities / functions

As per Section 15 of the Ordinance E. P. Ordinance No. LXXV of 1958; amendment Ordinance No. LV of 1977, the Authority performs statutory functions of development, maintenance and regulatory nature.
 

Development and Maintenance functions

● Carry out river conservancy works including river training works for navigational purposes and for 

   provision of aids to navigation including marks, buoys, lights and semaphore signals.
● Disseminate navigational and meteorological information including publication of river charts;
● Provided pilotage and hydrographic survey services.
● Draw up programmers of dredging requirements and priorities for efficient maintenance of existing

   navigable waterways and for resuscitation of dead or dying rivers, channels, or canals, including

   development of new channels and canals for navigation.
● Develop, maintain and operate inland river ports, landing/ferry ghats and terminal facilities in such

   ports or ghats.
● Carry out removal of wrecks and obstruction in inland navigable waterways.
● Conduct traffic surveys to establish passenger and cargo requirements on the main rivers, feeders

   and creek routes.
● Develop rural water transport by progressing of schemes for modernising and mechanizing country

   craft.
● Ensure co-ordination of Inland Water Transport with other forms of transport, with major sea ports,

  and with trade and agricultural interests for the optimum utilisation of the available

  transport capacity.
● Conduct research in matters relating to Inland Water Transport including development of
        ● Craft design
        ● Technique of towage
        ● Landing and terminal facilities
        ● Port installations
● Arrange programmes of technical training for Inland Water Transport personnel.
● Maintain liaison with the shipyard and ship repair industry to meet the requirements of the Inland

   Water Transport fleet repairs and new constructions.
● Maintain liaison with the Government and facilitate import of repair materials for the Inland Water

   Transport Industry.
● Prepare plans or schemes for carrying out any of the above mentioned functions.
 

Regulatory functions

a). Fixation of maximum and minimum fares and freight rates for Inland Water Transport on behalf of the Govt.;
b). Approve time tables for passenger launch services.
c). Inspection shies, cargo and inland vessel to ensure compliance with the provision of ISO -1976
d). Act as the Competent Authority of Bangladesh for the protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade, looking after the use of      waterways of Bangladesh on behalf of the Govt. of Bangladesh for the purpose of trade and transit between Bangladesh and      India as provided in the Protocol.

● Inland River ports - 22 nos. (Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barisal, Chandpur, Khulna, Baghabari, Potuakhali, Narsingdi, Aricha, Nagarbari, Daulatdia) and 11 nos. newely gazatted (Tongi, Mawya, Char-Janajat, Ashuganj-Bhairab Bazar, Bhola, Bargona, Nawyapara, Munshigonj, Chatak, Meghna Ghat, Cox's Bazar).
● Secondary riverine station (Developed) - 448nos.
● Landing points (without infrastructure) - 374 nos.
● Coastal Station - 23 nos.
● Ferry terminals Nos. - 08 nos.
● Field offices - 25 nos.
● Pilot Stations - 24 nos (Chittagong, Ramgoti, Barishal, Chandpur, Naryangonj, Natua Para, Madaripur, Kowkhali, Mongla, Khulna, Angtihara, Maowa, Aricha, Kawlia, Sirajgonj, Kazipur, Bahadurabad, Chilmari, Dai-Khawa, Patuakhali, Bhuirab Bazar, Lipsa, Paturia, Badder Bazar.)
● Annual passengers carried - 50 million
● No. of existing Dredgers - 7 nos.
● Inland survey and inspection vessels - 81 nos.
● Pontoon and barge - 410 nos.
● Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) Stations - 5 nos.(Name of Station & Address)

:  5968 km.

: 3865 km.

Name of Route

Minimum Depth

 Length of Route and Percentage

Minimum
Vertical Clearance

Minimum
Horizontal
Clearance

Class- I

3.66 m

683 km (11.39%)

18.30 m

76.22 m

Class- II

2.13 m

1027 km(17.13%)

12.20 m

76.22 m

Class -III

1.52 m

1885 km(31.44%)

7.62 m

30.48 m

Class -IV

Less than 1.52 m

2400 km(40.04%)

5.00 m
 

20.00 m

Total

5995 km(100%)

Activities under Revenue budget

● Maintenance dredging
● Pontoon construction and installation
● Jetty/ Ferry ghat or landing point construction
● Provision of quick communication facilities like VHF
● Manpower training
● Hydrographic Survey, Data collection & Tide table publication
● Installation of navigational aids
● Salvage operation including removal of Wrecks.

 

Activities under development budget
 

● Development and capital dredging.
● Procurement of Dredger's, Pontoon, Survey/Inspection/Salvage Vessels, Aids to navigation (bouys, 

   beacon, etc).
● Development of landing station and ferry ghat/terminals.
● Efficient development of inland transport and training of Inland Crews.
● Development harbor facilities of inland transport and providing weather forecasting

   facilities.

Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between Bangladesh and India.

 To utilize the rivers for transportation of goods between the two countries and for transportation of  goods from  one Indian place to another Indian place, there exists a Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between Bangladesh  and India. The current protocol is valid upto 31^st March, 2009.

To transport the inter-country trade cargo following ‘Ports of Call’ have been designated under the Protocol:

Under the Protocol, eight IWT routes have been designated for the porpose of transport. Following are the main transit routes:

a)      Kolkata  –       Pandu

b)     Kolkata  –       Karimganj

c)     Karimganj -     Pandu

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have been appointed by the Government as Competent Authority for all working under the Protocol, while Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) by the Indian Government.

Number of trips on inter Country Trade under the Protocol Since 2006-2007 to 2009-2010 (March)

Statistics of Inter-country cargo carried by Bangladesh and India vessels in metric ton and Ratio
since 2006-2007 to March-2010