he department was first established in 1958 by the former East Pakistan government as East Pakistan Inland Water Transport Authority (EPIWTA). It was established for overall control, management, and development of inland water transports in the entire region. This agency was introduced on October 31, 1958 with the ordinance called the East Pakistan Inland water Transport Authority Ordinance 1958 (E.P. Ordinance, NO LXXV of 1958). Later the government appointed three constituted authority of this institution on November 4, 1958. After independence of Bangladesh this department was named as Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority. Today, an appointed advisory committee advise in respect of all related development, maintenance, and operations of inland water transport and of inland waterways in Bangladesh.[1]