Govt declares Dhunot, Sariakandi river ports

Government has declared two new inland river ports on the Jamuna River in northern Bangladesh, expanding the country's inland water transport network and bringing the total number of inland river ports to 56.
 
The newly gazetted ports at Sariakandi and Dhunot in Bogura district are expected to strengthen river-based connectivity, facilitate trade and improve passenger transport in the region.

Separate notifications were issued by the shipping ministry on Wednesday in this connection under the Ports Act, 1908.

The country previously had 54 inland river ports, alongside numerous smaller boat ghats used for loading and unloading goods and passengers. Hatiya River Port in Noakhali was the most recent addition before Wednesday’s declaration.

Sariakandi River Port stretches from Dighapara Ghat near Hatsherpur union in the north to Jamthol Ghat in Kajla union in the south.

Dhunot River Port extends from Mathurapara Ghat in Karnibari union, Sariakandi upazila, in the north to Baishakhir Char in Bhandarbari union, Dhunot upazila, in the south, near Chekuria Hat in Sirajganj’s Kazipur upazila.

For both ports, the land boundary runs 50 yards inland from the high water mark during ordinary spring tide on either riverbank. Existing ghats within the gazetted limits, including Dighapara, Kalitola, Mathurapara and Jamthol for Sariakandi, and Chandanbaisha and Shahrabari for Dhunot, will fall under the respective port jurisdictions.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has been appointed conservator of both river ports to facilitate waterway development, jetty construction and passenger facilities.