Port of Barisal
বরিশাল নদীবন্দর
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Location
Country Bangladesh
LocationBarisal
Coordinates22°41′53″N 90°22′23″E / 22.69806°N 90.37306°E / 22.69806; 90.37306
UN/LOCODEBGBZL[1]
Details
Opened18th century
Owned byBangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority
Type of harbourRiver port

The Port of Barisal, officially known as Barisal River Port is the second largest[2] and busiest river port in Bangladesh after Dhaka in terms of passenger traffic.[3][4][5] It is located on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in the city of Barisal.[6] The port operates daily services between Dhaka and Barisal as well as most of the districts in southern part of the country including Chandpur, Narayanganj, Bhola, Laxmipur, Pirojpur and Barguna.[7][8] It also operates inter-district routes around Barisal.[9]

The port of Barisal is an important hub of transportation system connecting different parts of Bangladesh through waterways. It is also considered as a transit point between Mongla and Chittagong marine ports, Khulna and Dhaka and other river ports of Bangladesh as well as between West Bengal and Assam and Tripura of India.[10]

History

Barisal launch terminal
Barisal River Port Launch Terminal, Bangladesh (4)
Barisal River Port Area
Rocket Steamer Terminal

The Barisal river port has a recorded existence since the Mughal Empire. It was then called "Gird-e-Bandar", a river station which was known for the trade of salt, spices, and woods. It was turned into Barisal Bandar (port) during the British rule after the town committee was established in 1869 and achieved municipal status in 1876.

Steamers first began to use the rivers of Barisal shortly before 1880. In 1884 Bengal Central Flotilla Company introduced regular steamer service between Barisal and Khulna. Subsequently, Barisal became an important steamer centre for both inter-district routes and as a station on the main route from other districts of Bangladesh to Calcutta and as a terminus for branch lines from Chittagong, Noakhali and Madaripur. There existed also a number of feeder services in the interior of the district. It later became the regional headquarters of Indian General Navigation, River Steam Navigation, Indian General River Steamer companies in British period to connect North and Eastern part of Bengal with the capital city.

After the 1947 Bengal partition, Pakistan River Steamer Services (PRS) was formed and handed over its service it to East Pakistan Inland Water Transport Authority (EPIWTA) in 1958. Formed under East Pakistan Inland Water Transportation Ordinance’ the EPIWTA gave Barisal River Station the status of River Port in 1960. Followed by the independence of Bangladesh, EPIWTA was named as Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), which currently takes care of all related development, maintenance, and operations of inland water transport and of inland waterways in Bangladesh.[11]

Development of the port

In 1964, the East Pakistan Inland Water Transport Authority (EPIWTA) undertook a port development initiative for the five major river ports of the eastern region of the then Pakistan including Dhaka, Barisal, Chandpur, Khulna and Narayanganj. The project included the construction of permanent terminal buildings and other facilities for the transportation of passengers and goods. However, the port of Barisal project was left unimplemented for an unknown reason and only a half-bricked tin-shed structure was built in 1980.

After years, the Bangladesh government undertook a project in 2003 for the construction of a modern river terminal and jetties in Barisal river port at a cost of Tk 9.5 crore.[12] It was later revised again and the government finally approved a port development and modernization project in 2009 at a cost of about Tk 17.6 crore for the construction of a modern terminal building on 1,554 square metre land, 1500 square metre parking yard, 1200 metre steel boundary and retaining wall, 714 metre walkway, 1,000 square metre cargo shed, 400 square metre transit cargo shed, 120 feet long six pontoons with modern loading and unloading facilities, four steel gangway, passenger lounge and waiting room with health and sanitation facilities, development and maintenance of navigability by regular dredging and beautification of the terminal and adjacent areas of the port.[13][14][15]

In March 2010, the Barisal river port development and modernization project started and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2011.[16] The new port was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "UNLOCODE (BG) - BANGLADESH". service.unece.org. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. ↑ "Work on Barisal river port project begins next month". The Daily Star. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. ↑ "Huge rush of passengers at Barisal river port". The Independent (Bangladesh). 26 July 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  4. ↑ "Barisal port needs more pontoons to anchor special Eid launches | Independent". www.theindependentbd.com. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Passengers crowd Barisal port to go to workplace - Countryside - observerbd.com". The Daily Observer. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "Dredging starts around Barisal port". The Daily Star. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "Country's 'biggest' launch being added to fleet". The Daily Star. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  8. ↑ "River ways and tourism". The Daily Star. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  9. ↑ "Barisal water transport network drying up". The Daily Star. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "River Port - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Govt plans to widen Barisal river port". theindependentbd.com. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "Barisal river port dev project to begin soon". The Daily Star. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "Work on Barisal river port project begins next month". The Daily Star. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  14. ↑ "Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) dredging the river Kirtonkhola around Barisal river port". The Daily Star. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  15. ↑ "Barisal river port regaining navigability". Daily Sun. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "Foundation of river port laid". The Daily Star. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
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