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 Clearance
of
Dept
Route and
Clearance
Route
Percentage
Class- 3,66 m
I
683 km
(11%)
18,30 m
76,22 m
Class- 2,13 m
II
1000 km
(17%)
12,20 m
76,22 m
1,52 m
1885 km
7,62 m
30,48 m
Class
–III

(32%)
Class
–IV
Less than
1,52 m
2400 km
(40%)
5,00 m
20,00 m
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
Dry season
5968 km
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
vessels (MT)
Carried by Indian
vessels (MT)
Total carried
(MT)
2005-2006
538.020
17.572
555.592
Up to Dec,
2006
427.641
9.152
436.793
Statistics of transit trade cargo transported under the Protocol on IWT & T between
Bangladesh and India (MT).
Name of Route
200102
200203
200304
200405
200506
Up to
Dec’2007
KolkataDhubri(Pandu)
1.125
5.475
2.213
5.850
7.000
900
Dhubri(Pandu)Kolkata
2.750
600
300
5.650
1.500
5.000
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
Total handling
Bulk MT/month Container MT/month
24.902
--
General
Cargo MT/month
10.675
capacity of the port
Monthly activity of
the port
23.935
--
10.257
Current monthly
use by WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Potential monthly
use by WFP
500
Nil
Nil
Monthly use if
augmented
600
Nil
400

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
anchor
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Draught at
Berth
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Length Over
All
metres 220
240
220
240
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
Degrees)
To the north a line is drawn to the east and west near Ashulia
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
capacity of the port
55.500
--
12.500
Monthly activity of
the port
46.585
--
11.750
Current monthly
use by WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
500
Potential monthly
use by WFP
Monthly use if
augmented

600
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 (m)
Bulk
Max (m)
Conventional
Min (m)
Conventional
Max (m)
Berths
05
--
--
--
--
Anchorages
08
--
--
--
--
Draught at
anchor
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Draught at
Berth
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Length Over
All
metres 180
220
180
220
Beam
(maximum)
metres --
--
--
--

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
Decimal Degrees)
To the south a line is drawn to the north and south near Gopchar
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
capacity of the port
2500
--
1700
Monthly activity of
the port
2350
--
1500
Current monthly
use by WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Potential monthly
use by WFP
100
Nil
100
Monthly use if
augmented
150
Nil
150

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
Berths
Bulk Min Bulk Max Conventional Min Conventional Max
(m)
(m)
(m)
(m)
04
--
--
--
--
Anchorages 06
--
--
--
--
3,66
3,66
3,66
Draught at
anchor
metres 3,66
Draught at
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
metres 150
280
150
280
--
--
--
Berth
Length
Over 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
Degrees)
To the north a line is drawn east and west across Bhairab river
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
Decimal Degrees)
89,52446
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
capacity of the port
6.500
--
6.500
Monthly activity of
the port
5.520
--
5.800
Current monthly
use by WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Potential monthly
use by WFP
400
Nil
300
Monthly use if
augmented
500
Nil
400

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)
Berths
(m)
(m)
(m)
03
--
--
--
--
Anchorages 05
--
--
--
--
Draught at
anchor
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Draught at
Berth
metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Length
Over All
metres 110
120
110
120
--
--
--
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
Decimal Degrees)
To the west – the part of the Meghna river to the westward of the
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
Decimal Degrees)
To the east a line is drawn to the north and south across the Dakatia
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
MT/month
Container
MT/month
General Cargo
MT/month
Total handling capacity
of the port
11.000
--
10.000
Monthly activity of the
port
9.500
--
9.000
Current monthly use by
WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Potential monthly use by
WFP
500
Nil
300
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)
Berths
(m)
(m)
(m)
05
-
-
-
-
Anchorages 08
-
-
-
-
Draught at
anchor
Metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Draught at
Berth
Metres 3,66
3,66
3,66
3,66
Length
Over All
Metres 190
200
190
200
-
-
-
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
Max. capacity
Nil
Silo 2
Nil
Silo 3
Nil
Units
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
Degrees)
To the north a line is drawn to the east and west across
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 Degrees)
90,39815
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
MT/month
Container MT/month
General
Cargo MT/month
Total handling
capacity of the port
150.000
--
10.000
Monthly activity of
the port
135.000
--
5100
Current monthly use
by WFP
Nil
Nil
Nil
Potential monthly use
by WFP
900
Nil
800
Monthly use if
augmented
10.000
Nil
900
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
-
Bulk
Min (m)
Bulk
Max (m)
Conventional
Min (m)

Vessel Specifications
Nb
Conventional
Max (m)
Berths
03
--
--
--
--
Anchorages
10
--
--
--
--
Draught at
anchor
metres 10,00
10,00
10,00
10,00
Draught at
Berth
metres 8,00
8,00
8,00
8,00
Length Over
All
metres 110
130
110
130
Beam
(maximum)
metres --
--
--
--

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
Degrees)
To the north a line is drawn to the east and west across
Karatoa 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.