The committee at its meeting found the ministry's explanation satisfactory and resolved that the shipping minister rightly decided not to accept the Danish grant for overhauling four ro-ro ferries.

The Danish Embassy in Dhaka brought the allegation against the minister that he had demanded bribe from it for okaying the project and cancelled the grant.

The parliamentary body supported the stand taken by Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain after reviewing the matter.

"The ministry's step showed the way to be self-reliant as the ferries are now being overhauled with our own funds and technical support," Golam Mohammad Siraj, chairman of the committee, told newspersons after the meeting.

The ministry informed the meeting that the Danish government was supposed to provide TK 95.73 crore as the cost for overhauling the ferries. But the job is now being done with only Tk 20 crore.

The meeting recommended introduction of shipping insurance for passengers.

The committee asked Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority to complete dredging at Paturia, Manikganj, and smooth navigation.

Siraj chaired the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Of the seven members present at the meeting, six belonged to the ruling party.