TRAVELING BY WATERWAYS

Bangladesh is a low land area,it surrounded by sea and a large number of river named Padma,Meghna,Jamuna,Braghmaputra,Sitalokkha,Tista,Kushiara,Voirob,Burigonga,Dholesshori and much more.So that u can journey easily to your destination with comfort and relax by boat,sea truck,steamer.There have public and privet sector transporting in waterways.our public sector company is BIWTC (Bangladesh inland water transport corporation).

You can travel so many district in Bangladesh by sea truck ,steamer etc. In capital of Bangladesh (Dhaka) have awater terminal nammed (BIWTA terminal Sadarghat).A large number of steamer leave from here to so many destinations in southern part of Bangladesh like Chandpur,Barishal,Potuakhali,Bhola,Khulna(Sundarban) etc.

BIWTC

During liberation war the communication system in this region was totally disrupted. As a result, there was acute problem in transportation of food grains, POL, essential imported goods, other cargo, vehicles and passengers. Under this circumstances, Govt. felt it necessary to rebuild and rehabilitated the disrupted transport system for easy and safe transportation both in Inland and Coastal areas by establishing a Govt. transport organisation. With this end in view, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) was established in the public sector by the Govt. in 1972 with the then East Pakistan Shipping Corporation, the only Govt. organisation and other 9 number of private shipping companies.

 
FUNCTIONS OF BIWTC:

BIWTC is a service oriented commercial organisation in the public sector. Since its creation, it has been playing a vital role in the inland and coastal water ways by carrying of passengers, cargo and vehicles. The functions of BIWTC are as follows:

1. To provide services for safe transportation of passenger and cargo in inland and coastal water ways.
2. To provide services for transportation of vehicles in the waterways.
3. III. To operate safe transport services for transportation of passenger and cargo between mainland and off-shore islands, where thousands of people are living.
4. IV. To provide services in the uneconomic routes as Public Service Obligation (PSO).
5. V. To render any other emergency services at time of national needs.
6. VI. To maintain dockyard and repair yard for repair and renovation of vessels engaged in the above mentioned activities.

With the aim of transforming BIWTC into a commercially viable organisation, in accordance with the strategic plan of the IDA proposed IWT-III project the BIWTC has been transformed unit basis organisation and it is performing its activities with the following units:-

1. Ferry Service Unit.
2. Passenger Service Unit.
3. Cargo Service Unit.
4. Ship Repair Service Unit.

Brief descriptions regarding activities of the above units are as follows:


Ferry Service Unit

BIWTC is providing day/night ferry services in the following routes to connect Northern and Southern regions with the Eastern region of the country by bridging the road gaps:

Name of Routes/Services
I	Paturia	Kazirhat	Paturia
II	Paturia	Daulatdia	Paturia
III	Mawa	Charjanajat	Mawa
IV	Mawa	Kathalbari	Mawa
V	Chandpur	Shariatpur	Chandpur

The above ferry services are being operated by different categories of self-propelled and dumb ferries including Ro-Ro ferries. The particulars of vessels engaged under this unit as on 23.05.2004 are as follows:-

Type of vessel	No. Of Commercial vessel	No. Of Auxiliary vessel	Total vessel
Small Ferry	3	-	3
Medium Ferry	4	-	4
K-Type Ferry	8	-	8
Ro-Ro Ferry	12	-	12
Dumb Ferry	8	-	8
Sub-Total	35	9	44
Tug (auxiliary vessel)	12	-	12
Total	47	9	56

Passenger Service Unit

BIWTC is responsible for operation of passenger services both in inland water routes and in the coastal areas & off-shore islands of the country. Those off-shore islands are inhabited by crores of people & are also growing populous day by day. Waterways are the only communication media for the people of the region for carrying out their day-to-day socio-economic activities. But till to day no proper passenger service could have been opened in the area by the private sector.


As such the responsibility for operation of the passenger vessels in the region has been vested upon with BIWTC for a long time on behalf of the Government as a Public Service Obligation (PSO).

Passenger Service Unit is mainly engaged in carrying passengers in the inland waterways, coastal areas and off-shore islands. Vessels of this unit are plying in the following routes:

Name of Routes/Services
Inland

1. Dhaka-Khulna Rocket Service

Coastal

1. Chittagong-Barisal Steamer Service
2. Chittagong-Hatiya Steamer Service
3. Daulatkhan - Char Alexander Sea-truck Service
4. Kumira-Guptachara LCT Serivce
5. Hatiya-Char Bata Sea-truck Service
6. Char Changa-Char Bata Sea-truck Service
7. Manpura-Shashiganj Sea-truck Service.
8. Barisal-Mozuchowdhuryhat Sea-truck Service.
9. Kaliya-Nazirpur Sea-truck Service.
10. Alexander-Mirjakalu Sea-truck Service.
11. Teknaf-Sent Martin Tourist Sea-truck Service.

TRAVELING BY ROAD

City Service

Existing City Routes Total = 11 1. Abdullahpur-Motijheel Via Firmgate 2. Balughat-Cantonment- Motijheel Via Firmgate 3. Abdullahpur-Azimpur Via Manik Mia Avenue 4. Gazipur-Gulistan Via Firmgate 5. Mirpur12- Motijheel Via Firmgate 6. Gabtoli-Gulistan Via Firmgate 7. Gabtoli-Khilgaon Via Gulshan1 8. Rupnagar-Motijheel Via Firmgate 9. Mohammadpur- Badda Via Mohakhali 10. Nabinagar-Gulistan Via Firmgate 11. Mohammadpur-Gulshan2 Via Firmgate Police Box Inter District Service Name of Inter Districts Routes Services Name of Depot BRTC Operate Route Name of Route Motijheel Bus Depot Dhaka-Kolmakanda, Dhaka-Modon, Dhaka-Muhongonj, Dhaka-Maoa, Motijheel-Narsingdi, Dhaka-B-Baria, Dhaka-Chandpur, Dhaka-Companigonj, Double Decker Bus Depot. Kalyanpur-Meherpur-Kustia, Mahakhali – Chamraghat - Gazipur-Kishoregonj. Joarsahara Bus Depot Shibbari-Fulbaria, Gulistan-Bandura, Dhaka-Maoa, Shalbon-Rangpur, Rangpur Bus Depot Horipur-Chapai, Ponchogor-Chapai, Ponchogor-Khulna, Rangpur-Ponchogor, Rangpur-tetolia, Ponchogor-Gaibandha, Rangpur-Chilahati, Rangpur-Ranisongkoil, Rangpur-Burimari, Tonirhat-Gaibandha, Chilmari-Debigonj, Rangpur-Sundorgonj-Gaibandha, Ponchogor-Lokkhipasha, Ponchogor-Netrokona, Satibari-Gaibandha, Rangpur-Shamnagore, Rangpur-Barishal, Rangpur Chilmari, Rangpur-Dahugram, Rangpur-Daikhaoa, Rangpur-Damoirhat, Rangpur-Dhaka. Comilla bus Depot Comilla-Sunamgonj, Lokkhmipur-Sylhet, Kishorgonj-Benapole, Comilla-panchori, Comilla-Dhaka. Pabna bus Depot Pabna-Dinajpur, Pabna-Pirojpur, Pabna-Chapai, Khalilpur-Chapai, Mongla-Netrokona, Pachbibi-Pabna, Nougaon-Pabna, Rajshahi-Debigonj, Rajshahi-Amua, Chapai-Pathorghata, Mojibnogor-Rajshahi, Rajshahi-Pachbibi, Rajshahi-Nougaon, Rajshahi-Shundorgonj, Rajbari-Rangpur, Rajshahi-Sapahar, Rajshahi-Burimari, Dinajpur-Gopalgonj, Pabna-Rajshahi. Bogra bus Depot Ponchogor-Barisal, Kurigram-Gopalgonj, Bogra-Khulna, Bogra-Jhalokati, Bogra-Rohonpur, Bogra-Joypurhat, Bogra-Nougoan, Bogra-Kansat, Bogra-Sapahar, Rajshahi-Bhurungamari Rajshahi-Sapahara, Dinajpur-Rangpur, Dinajpur-Chilmari, Dinajpur- Bhurungamari, Bogra-Dinajpur, Sundorgonj-Chittagong, Kurigram-Pirojpur, Bogra-Tentulia, Nitpur-Rajshahi, Rohonpur-Bholarhat, Bogra-Moubazar, Bogra-Bostabor, Rajshahi-Gaibandha, Bogra-Dhaka, Bogra-Joypurhat. Chittagong bus Dipot Chittagong-Companigong, Chittagong-Rangamati, Chittagong-Chorjabber, Chittagong-Chorfashion, Chittagong-Saidpur. Barisal Bus Depot Barisal-Rangpur, Barisal-Chapai, Kuakata-Khulna, Barisal-Munshigonj, Barisal-Benapol, Chorfashion-Jessore, Barisal-Amua, Barisal-Pathorghata, Barisal-Borguna, Barisal-Jhalokati-Kuakata, Barisal-Khalishpur, Kuakata-Kustia, Barisal-Kaorakandi. Sylhet Bus Depot Sylhet-Chandpur, Sylhet-Jaflong. Khulna Bus Dipot Khulna-Kathalia, Khulna-Kishoregonj, Khulna-Barisal, Khulna-Pathorghata, Khulna-Rayenda, Khulna-Shamnagor, Jessore-Borguna, Jessore-Kuakata, Khulna-Kakchira. Narshindi Bus Depot Akhaora-Dhaka, Narsingdi-Dhaka, Kutichoumohoni-Dhaka. N.gonj Bus Depot Dhaka-Narayangonj, Narayangonj-Kuliarchor. International Bus Service (a) Dhaka - Kolkata International Service : (Started on 9 July 1999) 1. Two buses are being operated between Dhaka - Kolkata every day having 40 seating capacity. These are fully air-conditioned and Super Deluxe Buses of international standard. 2. No buses are operated on Sunday from either sides. 3. Fare is BDT. 1500/- (for two ways) per passenger (US $ 22.00/passenger) 4. From Dhaka one Bus starts at 7:00 a.m. and another at 7:30 a.m. (BST) and Similarly 2 buses from Kolkata starts at 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. (IST) 5. Bangladesh Buses are operated on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Indian buses are operated on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday from Bangladesh side and Visa-vi'z. 6. Maximum 20 kg. goods are allowed for each passenger. 7. Contact Tel. No. Dhaka -Kolkata  : 880-2-8357757, 880-2-8356720, 880-2-9333803 : 91-33-23591076, 91-33-22521049 (b) Dhaka Agartala Bus Service: (Started on 22 September 2003) 1. One air-conditioned Super Deluxe bus is operated having 40 seats of international standard. 2. Fare is Tk. 600/- (For two ways)-(Around US $ 10) 3. Time schedule available over Tel. No. 880-2-8360241

Communication

By air

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is well served by international flights from most continents. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the national carrier of Bangladesh; which is well connected in 18 international destination. Mainly in Middle East also Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and also Indian Subcontinent.
Indian Airlines, Jet Air has direct flights from Kolkata / Delhi/ Mumbai. Pakistan International Airlines has direct flights from Pakistan. Thai Airways also has direct flights from Bangkok There are also gateways from Nepal on GMG Airlines and Bangladesh Biman, Hong Kong on Dragon Air, Malaysia, Singapore, Delhi, Kunming and Kolkata. You can also travel to Dhaka from Middle East by Gulf Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Yemenia, and Both Dhaka & Chittagong by Bahrain Air, Turkish Airlines, Oman Air and Air Arabia.

Shahjalal airport is modern and reasonably efficient. However, half the world's mosquitoes seem to live in the baggage reclaim area, so be sure to wear long sleeves and covered legs/feet. Also note that immigration takes a lot of time during peak hours (minimum 30-45 mins) as the system is manual and there are only 2 lines for foreign passport holders.

By bus

Being the capital and geographical center of the country, Dhaka is the natural hub for the country's bus companies. There are several bus stations around Dhaka, and which one you need to be at depends where you want to go, so ask around before heading out to one of them. Most are as crowded as you would expect them to be(because of population).
Sayedabad bus station is useful for buses to the eastern half of the country including Sylhet Division and Chittagong Division.
Gabtali bus station serves most of the western half of the country including Jessore, Rajshahi Division and Khulna Division.

Mohakhali bus stationserves mainly to Tangail, Mymonsing and other northern districts of Dhaka. Sometimes also Bagura and other western-northern part of Bangladesh.
Luxury buses like Green Line, Shyamoli, Silk Line,Saudia-S alam (Mercedes bench) and Shohagh serve the major cities and tourist attractions. They all have a few offices around town, the most central being those near the Eastern Hotel on Inner Circular Rd in Central Dhaka, just north of the Motijheel area. Green Line serves Chittagong (400 taka, 5-6 hours), Cox's Bazar (630 taka, 8-9 hours), Rajshahi ( Tk 350, 4 hours), Sylhet (Tk 400, 5 hours), Khulna (Tk 450, 7 hours) and Jessore ( Tk 400, 5-6 hours) in its comfortable Volvo buses. It also has a couple of super luxury Scania buses to Chittagong (Tk 550) and Cox's Bazar (Tk 850) if you feel comfortable floating through a developing country in high style and have enough taka to spend(however the money spent could go towards helping develop Bangladesh more). Seats are huge and fully recline. The quality of these buses are comparable to Business class of an airline!! (there are also Hino A/C luxury buses as well as Volvo and Scania). Recently, the S.Alam and the Saudia, two of the leading (non-ac) bus service providers have jointly launched a Mercedes-Benz luxury bus service to Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and some other major cities. One of the ticket counters has been opened at the Panthapath, an area where you can locate all major luxury bus ticket counters.
From India there are a number of land entry points for Buses. The most common way is the regular comfortable a/c buses from Kolkata to Dhaka via the Haridaspur / Benapole border post. Private bus companies Shohagh, Green Line, Shyamoli and others operate daily bus services. Government buses run under the label of the state owned West Bengal Surface Transport Service Corporation (WBSTSC) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). WBSTSC and BRTC both operate buses from Kolkata every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 5:30AM and 8:30AM, and 12:30PM while from Dhaka they leave on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:00AM and 7:30AM. The normal journey time is around 12 hours with a one-way fare of Indian Rs.550 or Tk.600-800, (roughly $8-12). If you're only headed to Haridaspur the fare is Rs.86, or Tk 116. The journey should take around 2.30 hours.

By boat

Most ferries arrive at and leave from Sadarghat in Old Dhaka. This area and the streets surrounding it are unbelievably hectic so allow plenty of time and watch your bags and pockets carefully. If arriving here, fight your way to the left on the frontage road and then make your first right - this turns into Nawabpur Road and leads north to the hotels. Even if you aren't staying in this area, it's easier to walk several hundred meters north to catch an onward rickshaw, the ones near the ghat are at a standstill.
The Rocket Steamers (P.S. 'Tern', 'Masud' and 'Ostrich') run to Barisal and Khulna several times per week, departing from Sadarghat around 6pm. To Barisal is Tk 480/300 in first/second class, while all the way to Khulna will run Tk 1010/610 and take 26-30 hours. Tickets should be booked at the BIWTC office in Motijheel just east of Dilkusha Circle I. It's open until 5PM Su-W and until 2PM on Thursdays, closed on Fridays. A quick heads-up in that the link to the BIWTC tariff mentioned above is in 'Takas' and one should double check the fares.

Chandpur is the second major river station 3 to 4 hours journey from Dhaka and 5 to 6 hours Journey from Barisal.
Multiple other boats are available for short and long distances - head to Sadarghat or Badam Tole ghat (about 1 km further west) and ask around. Tickets aren't pre-sold, and bargaining is likely necessary.

Districtwise map of Bangladesh