Bangladesh Waterways Additional information

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).

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 are navigable by mechanized vessels during monsoon period (about 3.865km during
the dry period). The IWT sector carries over 50% of all arterial freight traffic and one quarter of all
passenger traffic.

 Waterway Categories
Name Minimum Length of Minimum Vertical Minimum Horizontal Clearanc
of Dept Route and Clearance e
Route Percentage
Class- 3,66 m 683 km 18,30 m 76,22 m
I (11%)
Class- 2,13 m 1000 km 12,20 m 76,22 m
II (17%)
Class 1,52 m 1885 km 7,62 m 30,48 m
–III (32%)
Class Less than 2400 km 5,00 m 20,00 m
–IV 1,52 m (40%)
Total - 5968 km - -
(100%)
 

 General Information
Inland River ports: 21 nos (Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barisal, Chandpur, Khulna, Baghabari,
Potuakhali, Narsingdi, Aricha, Nothakhola, Daulatdia)
10 nos newly gazatted (Tongi, Mawya, Char-Janajat, Ashuganj-Bhairab Bazar, Bhola,
Bargona, Nawyapara, Mirkadim, Chatak, Meghna Ghat).
Secondary station (Developed) 448 nos.
Landing points (without infrastructure) 374 nos.
Coastal Station 23 nos.
Ferry terminals 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.
DGPS Stations 5 nos

Waterways Information
Length of navigable waterways
Monsoon
5968 km
Dry season

3865 km

Least available depth range 3,90 m to 1,50 m

Annual water discharge (Source: BWDB) 1,400 billion m³.
Annual quantum of silt (Source: BWDB) 2,5 billion MT
No. of passenger carried (In year) 87,80 million.
Quantum of cargo carried (In year) 0,58 million MT

 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 destination to another Indian destination, there is a
Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade between Bangladesh and India.
The current protocol is valid up to 31st March, 2009.
To transport the inter-country trade cargo following ‘Ports of Call’ have been designated
under the Protocol:
Bangladesh India
Narayanganj Kolkata
Khulna Haldia
Mongla Pandu
Sirajganj Karimganj
Under the Protocol, eight IWT routes have been designated for the purpose of transport. Following
are the main transit routes:

a) Kolkata  –  Pandu

b) Kolkata  –  Karimganj

c) Karimganj -  Pandu

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has been appointed by the Government as
Competent Authority for all working under the Protocol, while the Inland Waterways Authority of India
(IWAI) has been appointed by the Indian Government.
 Statistics of Inter-country trade cargo transported under the Protocol of IWT & T between
Bangladesh and India.
Year Carried by Bangladeshi Carried by Indian Total carried
vessels (MT) vessels (MT) (MT)
2005-2006 538.020 17.572 555.592
Up to Dec, 427.641 9.152 436.793
2006

 Statistics of transit trade cargo transported under the Protocol on IWT & T between
Bangladesh and India (MT).

Name of Route 2001- 2002- 2003- 2004-05 2005- Up to

02 03 04 06 Dec’2007
Kolkata- 1.125 5.475 2.213 5.850 7.000 900
Dhubri(Pandu)
Dhubri(Pandu)- 2.750 600 300 5.650 1.500 5.000
Kolkata
Kolkata-Karimganj 1.500 1.550 Nil 3.600 Nil 3.250
Karimganj-Kolkata 1.250 Nil Nil Nil Nil 2
Total 6.625 7.625 2.513 15.100 8.500 9.152
*Entire cargo carried by Indian vessels.

Dhaka River Port

Contacts 

Location Dhaka

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Capacity Bulk MT/month Container MT/month General
Cargo MT/month
Total handling 24.902 -- 10.675
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of 23.935 -- 10.257
the port
Current monthly use Nil Nil Nil
 by WFP
Potential monthly 500 Nil Nil
use by WFP
Monthly use if 600 Nil 400
augmented
 

 Discharges Rates
Discharges Rates
To warehouse 144 62
To trucks 654 280
To rail-wagons Nil Nil
To barges Nil Nil
To bagging Nil --
Most of the bulk cargo discharged at this port consist of bricks, sand, stones and other building
material whereas food grains are discharged in bagged form. Dhaka river port also has a fuel depot at
Futola. Capacity of this fuel depot is 60.000 MT and Monthly activity is 50.793 MT.

 Vessel Specifications
Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Max Conventional Min Conventional Max
(m) (m) (m) (m)
Berths 06 -- -- -- --
Anchorages 10 -- -- -- --
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
anchor
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
Berth
Length Over metres 220 240 220 240
All
Beam metres -- -- -- --
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational)

Quantity Capacity
Shore Cranes 2 Nos 3 MT
Mobile Cranes Nil -
Bagging Machines Nil -
Silo Facilities Nil -
Vacuvators Nil -
Available Storage (covered) 30 Nos 557,40 m³
Available Storage (open air) 20 acres 81076,35 m³

 Container Facilities
20 ft 40ft
Container facilities No No
Daily off-take capacity Nb of Containers Nil Nil
Container Freight Stations (CFS) No No
Number of CFS Nil Nil
Capacity of CFS (Nb of Container/Day) Nil Nil

 Silos

Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 3 Units
Max. capacity Nil Nil Nil MT
Daily Discharge Nil Nil Nil MT
Draft (Height) Nil Nil Nil Metres
Free out into Silo Nil Nil Nil US$


Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S Decimal To the north a line is drawn to the east and west near Ashulia
Degrees) across the Turag river at latitude 23˚-52’-30”N
23.70134
Longitude (E/W To the south a line is drawn to the north and south across the
Decimal Degrees) river Buriganga at longitude 90˚-27’-26”E

90.40403

Shitalakhya river
Overview 
No information provided.
Standard information 
   
Total distance N/A
Width N/A
River flow N/A
Seasonal affect N/A
Total travel time N/A
Maximum weight and size of vessels N/A
Regular traffic N/A
If yes, with what company N/A
Security N/A
Main ports N/A
Border crossings/customs N/A
Ports 

Narayanganj River Port

Contacts 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority 

Title: Sr. Deputy Director 
Name: A.K.M. Arifuddin
Tel: + 880 2 7113372
Website:

Location Narayanganj

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Capacity Bulk MT/month Container MT/month General
Cargo MT/month
Total handling 55.500 -- 12.500
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of 46.585 -- 11.750
the port
Current monthly use Nil Nil Nil
by WFP
 Potential monthly Nil Nil
use by WFP
Monthly use if 600 Nil 500
augmented
 

 Discharge Rates
(MT/Day) Bulk Bagged
To warehouse Nil 78
To trucks 1.553 314
To rail-wagons Nil Nil
To barges Nil Nil
To bagging Nil --
Most of the bulk cargo discharged at this port consist of sand, stones, cement clinker and fly ash
whereas food grains are discharged in bagged form. Almost 62% of bulk cargo discharged into this
port constitutes fly ash. Narayanganj river port also has a fuel depot at Godnail.
 

Capacity of this fuel depot is 75.000 MT and Monthly activity is 68.000 MT.
Loading and discharge operations at the port are undertaken by outsourced labour which is available
within the port premises. This labour is unorganized unlike at the major sea ports where there is a
regulatory authority in the form of Dock Labour Management Board.
 

 Vessel Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Conventional Min Conventional
(m) Max (m) (m) Max (m)
Berths 05 -- -- -- --
Anchorages 08 -- -- -- --
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
anchor
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
Berth
Length Over metres 180 220 180 220
All
Beam metres -- -- -- --
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational)

Quantity Capacity
 Shore Cranes 1 Nos 2 MT
Mobile Cranes Nil --
Bagging Machines Nil --
Silo Facilities Nil --
Vacuvators Nil --
Available Storage (covered) 02 Nos 1400 M³
Available Storage (open air) -- 5067,28 M³
Narayanganj river port has four warehouses of 700 square metres each.

The port also has an area of 5.067,28 square metres which is available for open storage.

 Container Facilities
20 ft 40ft
Container facilities No No
Nb of Containers Nil Nil
Container Freight Stations (CFS) No No
Number of CFS Nil Nil
Capacity of CFS (Nb of Container/Day) Nil Nil

Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S To the north a line is drawn to the east and west near Rupganj/
Decimal Degrees) Murapara across the Shitalakhya river at latitude 23˚-27’-00”N

23,5934

Longitude (E/W To the south a line is drawn to the north and south near Gopchar
Decimal Degrees) across the Shitalakhya river at longitude 90˚-32’-16”E
90,50996

Bhairab River
Overview 
No information provided.

Standard information 
   
Total distance N/A
   
Width N/A
River flow N/A
Seasonal affect N/A
Total travel time N/A
Maximum weight and size of vessels N/A
Regular traffic N/A
If yes, with what company N/A
Security N/A
Main ports N/A
Border crossings/customs N/A
Ports 

Khulna River Port

Contacts 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority 

Title: Sr. Deputy Director 
Name: Kazi Wakil Nawaz
Tel: + 880 41 721929
Website:

Location Khulna

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Bulk MT/month Container MT/month General
Cargo MT/month
Total handling 2500 -- 1700
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of 2350 -- 1500
the port
Current monthly use Nil Nil Nil
by WFP
Potential monthly 100 Nil 100
use by WFP
 Monthly use if 150 Nil 150
augmented
 

 Discharge Rates
(MT/Day) Bulk Bagged
To warehouse 7,8 5
To trucks 31,2 20
To rail-wagons 7,8 5
To barges 31,2 20
To bagging Nil --
 

 Vessel Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Max Conventional Min Conventional Max
(m) (m) (m) (m)
Berths 04 -- -- -- --
Anchorages 06 -- -- -- --
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
anchor
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
Berth
Length Over metres 150 280 150 280
All
Beam metres -- -- -- --
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational)

Quantity Capacity
Shore Cranes Nil --
Mobile Cranes Nil --
Bagging Machines Nil --
Silo Facilities Nil --
Vacuvators Nil --
Available Storage (covered) Nil --
Available Storage (open air) -- 278,70 M³
 

Khulna river port does not have any covered warehouses for storage.
 

 Container Facilities
20 ft 40ft
Container facilities No No
Daily off-take capacity Nb of Containers Nil Nil
Container Freight Stations (CFS) No No
Number of CFS Nil Nil
Capacity of CFS (Nb of Container/Day) Nil Nil
 

 Silos
Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 3 Units
Max. capacity Nil Nil Nil MT
Daily Discharge Nil Nil Nil MT
Draft (Height) Nil Nil Nil Metres
Free out into Silo Nil Nil Nil US$

Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S Decimal To the north a line is drawn east and west across Bhairab river
Degrees) and Mazid Khali nulla at latitude 22˚-25’-45”N

To the south a line is drawn east and west across the Rupsha
river at latitude 22˚-46’-40”N

22,86167

Longitude (E/W 89,52446

Decimal Degrees)

Dakatia River
Overview 
No information provided.

Standard information 
   
Total distance N/A
Width N/A
   
River flow N/A
Seasonal affect N/A
Total travel time N/A
Maximum weight and size of vessels N/A
Regular traffic N/A
If yes, with what company N/A
Security N/A
Main ports N/A
Border crossings/customs N/A
Ports 

Chandpur River Port

Contacts 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority 

Title: Ports and Traffic Officer 
Name: Md. Alamgir Kabir
Tel: + 880 841 63205
Website:

Location Chandpur

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Bulk MT/month Container MT/month General
Cargo MT/month
Total handling 6.500 -- 6.500
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of 5.520 -- 5.800
the port
Current monthly use Nil Nil Nil
by WFP
Potential monthly 400 Nil 300
use by WFP
Monthly use if 500 Nil 400
 augmented
 

 Discharge Rates
(MT/Day) Bulk Bagged
to warehouse 9 10
to trucks 147 154
to rail-wagons 28 29
to barges Nil -
to bagging Nil -
 

 Vessel Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Max Conventional Min Conventional Max
(m) (m) (m) (m)
Berths 03 -- -- -- --
Anchorages 05 -- -- -- --
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
anchor
Draught at metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
Berth
Length Over metres 110 120 110 120
All
Beam metres -- -- -- --
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational)

Quantity Capacity
Shore Cranes Nil -
Mobile Cranes Nil -
Bagging Machines Nil -
Silo Facilities Nil -
Vacuvators Nil -
Available Storage (covered) Nil -
Available Storage (open air) - 92,90 M³
 

 Container Facilities
 20 ft 40ft
Container facilities No No
Daily off-take capacity Nb of Containers Nil Nil
Container Freight Stations (CFS) No No
Number of CFS Nil Nil
Capacity of CFS (Nb of Container/Day) Nil Nil
 

 Silos
Stevedoring: River ports do not offer stevedoring facilities

Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S To the west – the part of the Meghna river to the westward of the
Decimal Degrees) outfall of Dakatia river which lies east of longitude 90˚-38’-10”E
and bonded on the north by latitude 23˚-14’-00”N

23,21502

Longitude (E/W To the east a line is drawn to the north and south across the Dakatia
Decimal Degrees) river at longitude 90˚-40’-20”E

90,65811

Arialkhan River
Overview 
No information provided.

Standard information 
   
Total distance N/A
Width N/A
River flow N/A
Seasonal affect N/A
Total travel time N/A
Maximum weight and size of vessels N/A
Regular traffic N/A
    
If yes, with what company N/A
Security N/A
Main ports N/A
Border crossings/customs N/A
Ports 

Barisal River Port

Contacts 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority 

Title: Ports and Traffic Officer 
Name: Md. Saiful Islam
Tel: + 880 431 64750
Website:

Location Barisal

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Bulk Container General Cargo
MT/month MT/month MT/month
Total handling capacity of 11.000 -- 10.000
the port
Monthly activity of the 9.500 -- 9.000
port
Current monthly use by Nil Nil Nil
WFP
Potential monthly use by 500 Nil 300
WFP
Monthly use if augmented 600 Nil 400
 

 Discharge Rates
(MT/Day) Bulk Bagged
to warehouse 16 16
to trucks 174 172
 to rail-wagons Nil Nil
to barges 127 125
to bagging Nil -
 

 Vessel Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Max Conventional Min Conventional Max
(m) (m) (m) (m)
Berths 05 - - - -
Anchorages 08 - - - -
Draught at Metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
anchor
Draught at Metres 3,66 3,66 3,66 3,66
Berth
Length Over Metres 190 200 190 200
All
Beam Metres - - - -
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment (Operational)

Quantity Capacity
Shore Cranes Nil -
Mobile Cranes Nil -
Bagging Machines Nil -
Silo Facilities Nil -
Vacuvators Nil -
Available Storage (covered) Nil -
Available Storage (open air) - 140 M³
 

 Container Facilities
20 ft 40ft
Container facilities No No
Daily off-take capacity Nb of Containers Nil Nil
Container Freight Stations (CFS) No No
Number of CFS Nil Nil
Capacity of CFS (Nb of Container/Day) Nil Nil
 
 Silos
Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 3 Units
Max. capacity Nil Nil Nil MT
Daily Discharge Nil Nil Nil MT
Draft (Height) Nil Nil Nil Metres
Free out into Silo Nil Nil Nil US$

Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S Decimal To the north a line is drawn to the east and west across
Degrees) Arialkhan river at latitude 20˚-43’-00”N

To the west a line is drawn to the east and west across the
Arialkhan river at latitude 21˚-41’-00”N

22,70028

Longitude (E/W Decimal 90,39815

Degrees)

Hoorasagar River
Overview 
No information provided.

Standard information 
   
Total distance N/A
Width N/A
River flow N/A
Seasonal affect N/A
Total travel time N/A
Maximum weight and size of vessels N/A
Regular traffic N/A
If yes, with what company N/A
Security N/A
Main ports N/A
Border crossings/customs N/A
Ports 

Baghbari River Port

Contacts 

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority 

Title: Asst. Ports and Traffic Officer 
Name: Munshi Md. Mohiuddin
Tel: + 880 176491895
Website:

Location Sirajganj

Connection with other means of transport N/A

Storage capacity 
Bulk Container MT/month General
MT/month Cargo MT/month
Total handling 150.000 -- 10.000
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of 135.000 -- 5100
the port
Current monthly use Nil Nil Nil
by WFP
Potential monthly use 900 Nil 800
by WFP
Monthly use if 10.000 Nil 900
augmented
Baghabari river port is operative only during the winter season from mid October to mid March. The
port is not functional during other seasons or periods of the year.

 Discharge Rates
(MT/Day) Bulk Bagged
to warehouse 4.500 60
to trucks Nil 110
to rail-wagons Nil Nil
to barges Nil Nil
 to bagging Nil -
 

 Vessel Specifications
Nb Bulk Min Bulk Conventional Conventional
(m) Max (m) Min (m) Max (m)
Berths 03 -- -- -- --
Anchorages 10 -- -- -- --
Draught at metres 10,00 10,00 10,00 10,00
anchor
Draught at metres 8,00 8,00 8,00 8,00
Berth
Length Over metres 110 130 110 130
All
Beam metres -- -- -- --
(maximum)
 

 Port Cargo Handling Equipment

Quantity Capacity
Shore Cranes Nil -
Mobile Cranes Nil -
Bagging Machines Nil -
Silo Facilities Nil -
Vacuvators Nil -
Available Storage (covered) 1025 -
Available Storage (open air) - 4645 m³
Other (specify) - 18580 metres²
 

 Silos
Silo 1 Silo 2 Silo 3 Units
Max. capacity Nil Nil Nil MT
Daily Discharge Nil Nil Nil MT
Draft (Height) Nil Nil Nil Metres
Free out into Silo Nil Nil Nil US$

Other comments 
Location Details
Latitude (N/S Decimal To the north a line is drawn to the east and west across Karatoa
Degrees) river at latitude 24˚-09’-00”N

To the south a line is drawn to the east and west across the
Hoorasagar river at latitude 24˚-06’-00”N

24,29581

Longitude (E/W 89,60358

Decimal Degrees)

Travel time matrix 

Main Port - - -
Main Port - n/a n/a n/a
- n/a - n/a n/a
- n/a n/a - n/a
- n/a n/a n/a -
Main international waterways 

Other Comments 
No information provided.