In order to showcase the centenary tradition of riverine Bangladesh and the history of centenary ships to the next generation, the current government has taken the initiative to include the traditional paddle steamer PS Mahsud in the tourism service on inland waterways.
In continuation of this, the centenary traditional paddle steamer PS Mahsud, which will be re-launched on Saturday (15 November 2025) morning, was officially inaugurated by the Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain. Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, Lutfe Siddiqui, and several senior secretaries, secretaries and responsible officials of the government were also present at the time.
During the inauguration, the Shipping Advisor said that the paddle steamer PS Mahsud will be a unique combination of Bangladesh’s tradition and river-based tourism. It will start operating regularly on the Dhaka-Barisal route as a tourist service from Friday, November 21.
The shipping advisor said that the decision to relaunch the century-old paddle steamer P.S. Mahsud, which is under the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), after necessary repairs, as a pleasure boat has been expressed by the Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The shipping advisor also said, “P.S. Mahsud is not just a boat, it is a living symbol of the riverine culture and heritage of Bangladesh. We want the new generation to see up close how the river was once the lifeblood of communication and culture.”
The advisor said that in addition to P.S. Mahsud, plans have been made to renovate several other old steamers, including P.S. Ostrich, P.S. Lepcha and P.S. Turn. The goal is to preserve the heritage of the riverine route and expand the potential of river-based tourism.
Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury NDC said that the paddle steamer will attract many tourists from home and abroad if it is launched. For foreign tourists, various arrangements will be made for it, including traditional Bangladeshi food and Bengali songs.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said that the steamer’s engine, safety and fire safety systems have been completely renewed in the renovation and modernization process, while keeping the original structure and historical design intact. It has modern cabins, tourist-friendly decks and digital navigation systems.
The steamer will operate on the Dhaka-Barisal route every Friday and on Saturday from Barisal to Dhaka. Passengers will be able to enjoy a unique travel experience of the river’s beauty, history and heritage. To ensure safety, international standard safety equipment, lifeboats, fire safety and GPS systems have been added to it. Low-smoke-emitting technology has been used in the engine, which will help reduce pollution on the river route.
Initially, the steamer will go from Dhaka to Barisal once a week. It will depart from Sadarghat in Dhaka at 8 am every Friday and reach Barisal at night. Earlier, the steamer used to operate at night; however, BIWTC officials hope that people will be more interested in enjoying the view of the river and its banks by operating the steamer during the day.
