Govt not mulling permanent ban on Shela river route
The government is not considering a permanent ban to the plying of riverine vessels through Shela river in the Sundarbans, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said today.
His comments came hours after suggestion by an inter-ministerial meeting for ban on use of the route through world’s largest mangrove forest in wake of oil spill through a huge area of the forest following an oil tanker capsize.
The prevailing temporary bar on the use of Shela river route is causing problems in the flow of commodities at Chittagong port, he said in a press briefing at his office.
The Shela river route was an alternative channel used by the water transports, in place of the Mongla-Ghasikhali route – to connect with the Chittagong port.
“The Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel is closed since 2004 for lac...