Bangladesh will conduct its first-ever National Vessel Census 2026 to build a safe, orderly and effective water transport system, State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan said on Tuesday.
The nationwide census will be held from August 20 to 29, undertaken by the Shipping Ministry in collaboration with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), he said.
The state minister disclosed this while addressing the inaugural session of a three-day training programme for coordinators tasked with data collection for the census, held at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics building.
"Bangladesh is a riverine country. The economy, trade and people's livelihoods are deeply connected to rivers and waterways. But we have not yet been able to fully harness the potential of our waterways," Rajib said.
He said pressure on road transport for passengers and goods is steadily increasing, and various initiatives have been taken to ensure the maximum and effective use of waterways to ease this burden. Making more effective use of waterways for trade, transport of goods and passengers, and tourism can further energise the country's economy, he added.
The state minister said the census would provide a reliable and comprehensive picture of the actual number, type, use, ownership and other essential information about vessels across the country. This data will help shape future planning and policymaking for the water transport sector and enable effective measures to ensure safe and orderly navigation, he said.
Thanking the BBS for its cooperation in implementing such an important and challenging exercise, Rajib said the government is working to revive the lost heritage of waterways while building a modern, safe and people-friendly water transport system.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's emphasis on strengthening water connectivity, he said the development and maximum utilisation of waterways would be ensured in line with the government's priorities.
Speaking at the event, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said the current government is an elected one with a public mandate and is working sincerely for the welfare of the people.
Reliable information and data, he said, are essential for formulating sound policies and plans, adding that there is no alternative to accurate statistics for the country's socio-economic development and effective planning.
He warned that any discrepancy, irregularity or inconsistency found in the collection of accurate and reliable data would result in immediate and strict legal action, and called for maintaining professionalism, transparency and neutrality in the data collection process.
Saki said the current government is placing special importance on waterways, noting their comparatively lower cost makes them highly significant for cargo transport.
Effective use and development of waterways, he said, could expand trade and further energise the country's economic activities.
Welcoming the Shipping Ministry's initiative, he expressed confidence in the BBS's professionalism and capacity to successfully complete the vessel census.
Senior officials from the Shipping Ministry, the Department of Shipping and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, along with officials involved in the census programme, were present at the event.