MEGHNA GHAT, SONARGAON — TK Shipyard officially delivered the MV Karnaphuli Express to Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on January 15, 2026, in a ceremony attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Shipping.
The 85-meter vessel, with capacity for 750 passengers across three air-conditioned decks, is the largest inland passenger vessel ever constructed in Bangladesh. Built to Class NK standards, the ship features twin 1,200 HP diesel engines, modern navigation systems, and full HVAC.
18-Month Build, Ahead of Schedule
Construction began in July 2022 with steel cutting at the yard's 12,000 sqm fabrication facility. Despite global supply chain challenges, TK Shipyard completed the project in 18 months — three weeks ahead of contractual delivery.
"This delivery proves Bangladesh can build world-class passenger vessels to international classification standards," said Engr. Tofazzal Karim, Chairman of TK Shipyard. "Every weld, every system was inspected by Class NK surveyors throughout construction."
"The vessel's stability and fuel efficiency exceeded our expectations during sea trials on the Meghna River. We're proud to deploy it on the busy Dhaka-Barishal route."
— Capt. Rafiqul Hossain, Director Operations, BIWTC
Technical Highlights
The catamaran-style hull design provides superior stability in rough river conditions, while the shallow 1.9-meter draft allows operation during low-water seasons. Key features include:
• Fully redundant propulsion and steering systems
• Fire detection and suppression throughout
• 120-ton freshwater capacity and modern sanitation
• Wheelchair-accessible decks and facilities
• Fuel consumption 18% lower than previous generation vessels
The MV Karnaphuli Express will enter commercial service in February 2026, reducing travel time between Dhaka and Barishal to under 5 hours.