Boat Census to be held nationwide from August 20 to August 29

Bangladesh will conduct its first-ever national "Boat Census" from August 20 to 29, 2026 to create a comprehensive digital database of all sea-going coastal and inland motorized vessels.

The Department of Shipping and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) are jointly implementing the project. The resulting database will be critical for modernizing maritime transport planning improving navigational safety streamlining vessel registration, and coordinating post-accident rescue operations.

During a preparatory meeting at the Gazipur District Commissioner’s Office today, Mahnuma Rahman Deputy Director of the Gazipur District Statistics Office shared key updates. She confirmed that a nationwide preliminary listing phase completed in May, successfully identified 244,808 motorized vessels across the country.

In Gazipur alone officials mapped 60 navigation wharves and listed 811 boats (783 wharf-based and 28 household-based). Key staging areas include Kashimpur Nama Bazar Kodda Bazar and the Ghorashal Ferry Ghat.

Ahmed Hossain Bhuiyan Deputy Director of the Local Government Department attended the briefing as the chief guest alongside local law enforcement administrative officials and boat owners. To ensure accurate data collection during the main census authorities are currently conducting a pilot run on August 3 and 4.