Officials work under shadow of fearSmear campaign of allegations stall BIWTA projects

Development activities at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have come under strain since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year, with progress on key projects slowing and officials reportedly demoralised by a smear campaign of allegations and political tagging.

Since that political shift, BIWTA has not taken up any new development initiatives.

Even the 12 ongoing projects — many of them vital for maintaining river navigability and infrastructure — are progressing at a sluggish pace, insiders say.

Officials at the BIWTA allege that a vested group is deliberately targeting employees by falsely linking them to the Awami League.

These people are accused of demanding unethical favours and when refused, they allegedly file complaints against BIWTA staff with various ministries, departments, intelligence units, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

These accusations, officials claim, are often picked up by media outlets and presented as verified reports, creating fear and paralysis within the organisation.

Among the key projects currently underway are major dredging efforts to protect and restore river channels.

These include the Brahmaputra and Jhinai rivers in Jamalpur, the Dharla river in Kurigram, the Tolai and Punorbhaba rivers in Dinajpur, the Banshi river in Tangail, the Ghaghot river in Gaibandha, the Nagda river in Gazipur, and several rivers in Mithamoin upazila of Kishoreganj.

Other major undertakings involve constructing a circular walkway around Dhaka city, installing demarcation pillars to define river boundaries, and procuring 35 new dredgers — though the dredger procurement process itself is reportedly facing delays.

“We are working as per government directives to ensure proper implementation and timely completion of the ongoing projects,” said BIWTA Additional Chief Engineer Saidur Rahman.

“But a vested quarter is spreading falsehoods and threatening officials by linking them with Awami League affiliations to extract undue benefits. This is hampering the momentum of our work,” Saidur Rahaman said.

He urged media outlets to verify facts before publishing. “We always believe in transparency,” he said.

“If the media contacts us first, we can clarify and provide accurate information. That would prevent confusion and avoid damage to morale," he added.

AKM Arif Uddin, General Secretary of the BIWTA Officers Association, echoed those concerns and called for responsible journalism to support the morale of staff and facilitate timely delivery of public projects.