Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed the authorities to keep waterways around Dhaka operational.
He also called for maintaining normal navigability in the rivers.
The directives were issued at a meeting chaired by the prime minister at the Cabinet Division’s special meeting room in the Secretariat.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the meeting decided to consider proposals from interested private companies to operate water buses on the routes.
The prime minister instructed the relevant authorities to take necessary steps to prevent river pollution.
He also called for improvements to drainage and for preserving normal river flow.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam said the government plans to resume privately run water-bus services on Dhaka’s circular waterways.
Alam said the initiative is intended to ease travel for city residents and support river-based recreation and tourism.
Those attending included the environment state minister and the administrators of the Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations.
No timeline, budget, route list, operating framework or selected private operator was specified.