The largest state-owned passenger ship, MV Baro Awlia, has resumed operations in the coastal route Chittagong-Swandip-Hatia-Chittagong after repair and rehabilitation of the vessel by a local shipbuilding company. The Highspeed Shipbuilding and Engineering Company repaired the damaged ship owned by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation for Tk 5.68 crore. ‘MV Baro Awlia having a capacity of 850 passengers has resumed carrying passengers today along the coast from Chittagong to Hatia via Swandip ahead of Eid and Puja after the repair of the damaged vessel,’ shipping minister Shajahan Khan told a press briefing at the secretariat.
He said the 200-feet China-made vessel was withdrawn in the middle of 2011 as it operated in saline water for 10 years and was badly damaged over the time due to proper maintenance.
As the lowest bidder, the Highspeed Shipbuilding and Engineering Company got the repair work in January this year, the minister said, adding that the authorities had to open tenders for eight times to get response for the job.
Shipping secretary Syed Manjurul Islam, BIWTC chairman Mojibur Rahman and Highspeed Group chairman KM Mahmudur Rahman were present, among others, at the press briefing.
-With New Age input
