Dhaka, June 13 -- Bangladesh's growing focus on river transport and maritime logistics is creating fresh opportunities for banks to finance commercial vessels, as demand rises for modern bulkheads, cargo ships, oil tankers, dredgers, and other water transport vehicles.

With one of the world's largest inland waterway networks spanning more than 3,800 kilometres, waterways remain central to the country's trade and supply chain. From agricultural produce and construction materials to fuel and industrial goods, rivers continue to carry a major share of domestic cargo in Bangladesh.

The economics are compelling. According to World Bank estimates, transporting one tonne of cargo per kilometre costs around Tk 4.50 by road and Tk 2.74 by rail, ...