Shipping minister Md Shahjahan Khan yesterday laid the foundation stone for construction of modern river port of the district. Speaking at a meeting on Barisal river port premises the minister said, 24,000 kilometre river routes in the country have become ineffective. To maintain navigability of the routes 50 dredgers are required now but only 16 are available while four of them privately owned. He said the government has taken up a Tk 11,500 crore project for river dredging. The minister also announced that marine academy would be established in Barisal. The BIWTA chairman said that Tk 17.60 crore has been allocated for Barisal modern river port project. The target for completion of the project is June 30, 2011.