Parliament: The government dredged a total of 47 nearly dead rivers across Bangladesh in the last eight years, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told Parliamenton Thursday.

"Forty seven almost dead rivers were dredged in the last eight years," he said replying to an unstarred (written) question from Awami League MP Nizam Uddin Hazari (Feni-2).

Meghna (Alubazar-Horinaghat), Arialkha, Gomti, Kirtankhola, Kushiara, Brahmanputra, Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel, Ichhamoti, Mogra, Kongsha, Madhumoti, Dakatia, Tetulia, Kalabadar, Jamuna, Hurasagor, Boyal, Lohalia, Surma, Gabkhan Khal, Balu, Kumar, Khagdon, Taltola Khal, Kaligonga, Titas, Dhaleswari, Manumukh, Bhairab, Atrai, Lalmohon, Pona, Baulai, Sangdha, Palong, Bishkhali, Shitalakhya, Turag, Laukhathi, Mukhainagar Nala, Shailadah, Kirtinasha and Bhordia are among the rivers.

In reply to a starred question from the party MP Ali Azam (Bhola-2), the Shipping Minister said the government has taken plan to dredge 53 river routes as part of the plan of reviving almost dead rivers for the sake of keeping the river communication system in operation.

Shajahan Khan said the present government has taken various plans for modernising the river communication system in the country.

As part of excavation of 53 river routes at cost of Tk 1923 crore, 24 river routes will be excavated in the first phase, he said.

He said the excavation works of 12 important river routes are underway at cost of Tk 508.46 crore.