Sustainable Freight Transportation via Inland Waterways: Challenges and Strategic Solutions in Bangladesh

Inland water transport (IWT) is crucial for socio-economic development, facilitating rural connectivity, trade logistics, energy provision and tourism. Nevertheless, it is neglected due to historical underinvestment, inadequate infrastructure and regulatory inefficiencies in Bangladesh. This study evaluates the current state of freight movement via inland waterways, identifies key challenges and proposes strategies to improve sustainability. A mixed-method approach was used, including content analysis of secondary data (sourced from “Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority” (BIWTA) reports, government publications, academic journals and policy documents screened through a structured review process) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to explore challenges and solutions. Three FGDs were conducted with 15 purposively selected experts across three stakeholder groups: Shipping and Ports Authority officials, academics, and shipping agents. A Likert scale average was applied to rank identified challenges. The findings will help policymakers formulate integrated strategies to promote sustainable economic growth and safeguard maritime activities. The outcome of the study suggests that a sustainable IWT system can be achieved if the challenges are mitigated and recommended strategies are implemented.