Water Buses Set to Return to Dhaka’s Waterways within Three Months, Minister Says

Water buses could return to Dhaka’s waterways within the next two to three months, offering commuters an alternative to the capital’s crowded roads.

Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam announced the plan in parliament while responding to a supplementary question from lawmaker Quamrul Hassan. The proposed service would operate on Dhaka’s 110-kilometer circular waterway network, which includes the Turag, Buriganga, Shitalakkhya and Balu rivers.

Authorities believe passenger vessels could reduce pressure on the city’s congested roads. The minister said water bus services had been introduced about a decade ago but incurred losses of Tk 57 crore over 10 years, or an average of Tk 5.7 crore a year.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has identified problems with the earlier service and launched new initiatives to bring it back. “We expect operations to begin within the next two to three months,” the minister said.

The plan comes alongside a government effort to address pollution in the rivers surrounding Dhaka. Officials have identified 424 locations where chemical, liquid and solid waste are being discharged. A high-level coordination meeting was held, a committee was formed to oversee the work, and the rivers have already been inspected.

WASA, Dhaka’s two city corporations, Narayanganj City Corporation, Gazipur City Corporation, the inland water transport authority and the Ministry of Water Resources are coordinating the cleanup effort.

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We expect operations to begin within the next two to three months.