Dhaka, July 31 -- Development activities at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have come under strain since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year, with progress on key projects slowing and officials reportedly demoralised by a campaign of allegations and political tagging.

Since that political shift, BIWTA has not taken up any new development initiatives.

Even the 12 ongoing projects - many of them vital for maintaining river navigability and infrastructure - are progressing at a sluggish pace, insiders say.

Officials at the BIWTA allege that a vested group is deliberately targeting employees by falsely linking them to the Awami League.

These people are accused of demanding unethical favou...