First-ever vessel census starts Aug 20

Bangladesh will conduct its first-ever vessel census to build a safer, more organised and efficient inland water transport system, State Minister for Shipping Razib Ahsan has said.

The nationwide census will run from Aug 20 to 29 under the shipping ministry, with support from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Razib made the remarks on Tuesday while opening a three-day training event for coordinators tasked with collecting data for the Vessel Census 2026 at the Bangladesh Statistics Building in Dhaka.

“Bangladesh is a riverine country. Rivers and waterways are deeply connected to our economy, trade and people’s lives. But we have yet to fully tap their potential,” he said.

With road transport facing growing pressure, the government has taken initiatives to make greater use of waterways, he said.

“By using waterways more effectively for trade, goods and passenger transport, and tourism, we can make the economy more dynamic,” Razib said.

The census will provide reliable data on the number, types, uses and ownership of vessels, helping shape future policies and plans and improve safety, he said.

State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said reliable data was essential for sound policymaking and urged officials to maintain professionalism, transparency and neutrality during data collection.
The government is prioritising waterways because they are relatively cheaper for transporting goods, he said.

Razib said the government was also working to restore the waterways’ lost prominence and build a modern, safe and people-friendly transport system.