River Safety Week Begins Today
Call to ensure safe river routes
River Safety Week-2012 begins today with a mission of creating mass awareness about safety on the country's river routes.
The slogan of this year's River Safety Week is- Training and Awareness - Ensures Safety in Navigation.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan will inaugurate the week at BIAM auditorium in the capital in the morning, officials said yesterday.
Marking the day, Department of Shipping in collaboration with all stakeholders will bring out a colourful procession today from Jatiya Press Club premises.
Meanwhile, President Md Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the day.
The president, in his message, stressed creating mass awareness and imparting training to masters (captain) and assistants involved in navigation to ensure safety on the river routes.
He described the initiatives in observing the week during the monsoon as a time befitting one. He wished all the success of the week.
The prime minister, in her message, expressed the hope that awareness about river routes' safety will be created among all through observing the week.
Mentioning the role of river transportation in the country's development, she said after assuming office, her government had implemented various programmes to bring back navigability of the country's 53 rivers and saved rivers from illegal grabbers.
Besides, she said the government had strengthened dredging activities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to ensure navigability of the river routes along with enhancing capacity of Chittagong and Mongla sea ports.
Hasina hoped that concerned institutions and organisations would be more active to ensure environment-friendly and secured river journey. She wished all the success of the week.
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