Part of Brahmaputra in Kurigram being dredged for Ganga Vilas’s arrival

Dredging at a cost of Tk 3 crore is being done on the Brahmaputra river at the pontoon area of Chilmari port in Kurigram to prepare for the arrival of MV Ganga Vilas there.

MV Ganga Vilas, the world’s longest river cruise, which started its journey from India, will arrive at Chilmari port on February 15, said Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chief pilotat Chilmari port.

Due to navigability crisis in the river, the port’s pontoon fell on dry sand and lost its usability.

BIWTA is dredging an area of around one kilometre around the pontoon which will cost Tk 3 crore, so that the cruise ship can anchor at the pontoon, Mahbubur Rahman added.

“The pontoon of the port will become usable again and the tourists of Ganga Vilas can get down at the Chilmari port using the floating dock,” the official said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated “Ganga Vilas” on January 13. It started its river journey from Uttar Pradesh in India. Out of the 50 days of the cruise’s journey, 15 days will be spent in Bangladesh. Currently, this luxury cruise is in Bangladesh and it will pass through 1,100 kilometers of river route in Bangladesh, according to BIWTA and upazila administration sources.

Ganga Vilas will arrive at Chilmari Port via Bangladesh’s Bagerhat, Harbaria, Cuttack, Moralganj, Barisal, Dhaka, Sonargaon, Tangail, Meghnaghat, Sirajganj, Bahadurabad.

“All kinds of preparations are being taken for the arrival of Ganga Vilas. Tourists of the world’s longest cruise will be welcomed. They will get to visit various sights of Rangpur. Their security will be ensured,” said Chilmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mahbubur Rahman.

Ganga Vilas will depart for Assam from Chilmari Port on February 17, he added.