Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has assured a permanent solution to ease the suffering of Teesta river erosion and flood affected people. He said, “If we build a very planned dam and do planned dredging, we will be able to protect the people of this region insha’Allah. To do that work, we have come together here with an expert team on the instructions of the Prime Minister.
He said these things in an exchange meeting organized at Leisure Rest House after visiting Teesta Barrage of Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat on Friday (June 19) afternoon.
Referring to the crisis caused by the water policy of the neighboring countries, the Minister of Water Resources said, “The way water is flowing in Ghazaldoba in Uzan, they have opened their gates”. Due to this steep current, the banks of the Teesta are breaking and river erosion has become huge. The water is overflowing so much that it becomes difficult for the people of the area to live” He said that the government will quickly build planned dredging and sustainable dams to reduce this suffering.
Highlighting the need for Teesta Master Plan, the minister said, “Considering all aspects of Tistapar, Teesta Master Plan is very necessary”. It is very important not only for this region but for the entire country. Based on the Prime Minister’s promise, today we have come to visit with a technical team.
He also said that Teesta is not only your (Lalmonirhat-Rangpur) sorrow, it is the sorrow of the whole of Bangladesh. Whenever we can make these tasks visible and complete it may take 2/4 years or 6/7 years— but the people of this region will get the benefits. This will strengthen the economy of the whole of Bangladesh and strengthen the foundation of the economy. The misery of the 5 districts of North Bengal will one day turn into joy and production in this agricultural region will increase manifold. We’re moving towards that goal”
About the continuity of work and future plans, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said that this is a long-term work and many meetings are needed behind it. After completing the seminar in Kuwait (KUET), this large Teesta project like ‘Padma Barrage Project’ will also be taken up in Ekne (ECNEC) for approval.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, Member of Parliament for Lalmonirhat-1 Constituency Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan and Member of Parliament for Lalmonirhat-2 Constituency Rokon Uddin Babul were also present in the inspection and exchange meeting. Also, high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Water Resources, Deputy Commissioners of Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts were present
