en.Wedoany.com Reported - Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Bangladesh's Minister of Water Resources, stated that steps have been taken to submit the Teesta Master Plan (TMP) project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for review as soon as possible. The plan has been designated as a priority project for the Teesta River region by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and residents along the riverbanks no longer need to worry.
Anee made these remarks on Friday while interacting with people affected by river erosion at Kownia Point near the Teesta Bridge in Rangpur, alongside Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu and State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad. Earlier that day, he visited the barrage in Nilphamari district, the Teesta irrigation canal, and the Charalkata River, and exchanged views on the technical details of the TMP with officials at the rest house of the Teesta Barrage Project.
The Water Resources Minister stated that the implementation of the TMP will proceed rapidly, with funding entirely from domestic sources, supplemented by technical assistance from both domestic and international entities. Anee noted that the people of the northern region have long awaited this, and the Teesta is not only about Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Rangpur but concerns the entire Bangladesh. The people of this region will benefit from the TMP project, thereby strengthening the national economy and overall capacity.
Anee said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had promised the people of the Rangpur region to eliminate the troubles of the Teesta before the 13th parliamentary elections and has formed several committees to advance this commitment. The necessary surveys and technical preparations for the TMP are underway, covering aspects such as dredging, water resource conservation, and river management. The government is working to find a permanent solution to the existing problems in the Teesta River basin.
Through the implementation of the TMP, measures will be taken to prevent river erosion during the rainy season, control floods, and store water during the dry season. The stored water will be used for agriculture and fisheries, playing a significant role in improving the quality of life for the people in the region. The Water Resources Minister recalled that the late President Ziaur Rahman initiated the Teesta Barrage Project, aiming to fundamentally transform the agricultural landscape of the region. Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the TMP will be implemented.
The Minister stated that the Prime Minister's directives are not limited to river management or erosion prevention; the TMP project also includes a permanent system to maintain sufficient water flow in the river during the dry season. He noted that due to the strong flow from the upstream Gajoldoba Barrage, riverbank erosion on the Teesta is intensifying, and the excessive flow is making life difficult for residents in many areas. Planned dredging and dam construction will address these issues. Considering the overall situation of the Teesta riverbanks, the TMP has become a national priority.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Dulu stated that the people along the Teesta riverbanks should not believe in related controversial remarks and should remain cautious and patient. State Minister Azad said that technical and feasibility reviews are being conducted with river and water management experts from around the world for the successful implementation of the TMP. Officials including Dr. AKM Shahabuddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, and Engineer Md Enayet Ullah, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, attended the event.
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