Desk Report:
Shipping, Roads and Bridges and Railways Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has ordered legal action against the institutions involved in the incident of keeping food products anchored in the river for a long time without unloading them from lighter ships carrying imported wheat and corn at the warehouses on time.
On Saturday (February 28, 2026), the minister visited the Dhaleshwari River area of Munshiganj district and found that several lighter ships were anchored with food products for 6 to 18 days. Although these products were supposed to be unloaded quickly at the designated warehouses as per the relevant rules, this was not done on time.
The Shipping Minister said that any attempt to create an artificial crisis in the market or earn more profit by leaving food products unreasonably on ships will not be tolerated. There is a risk of market management and consumer interests being affected. The government is taking a strict stand against such irregularities.
The minister urged all concerned importers, transporters and traders to strictly follow the prescribed rules and regulations and directed them to ensure prompt unloading and proper storage of food products.
State Minister for Shipping, Roads and Bridges and Railways Habibur Rashid, Shipping Secretary Dr. Nurunnahar Chowdhury NDC, BIWTA Chairman Real Admiral Arif Ahmed Mustafa and senior officials of the Ministry of Shipping were present at the occasion.
It is to be noted that the task force formed under the Department of Shipping is regularly conducting operations and monitoring activities on the river routes. A total of 838 ships have been inspected in the Dhaka, Narayanganj and Jessore regions in the last one and a half months.
