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Published : 19 Jun 2026, 05:58 PM
Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has said it is possible to permanently safeguard the people living along the Teesta banks from river erosion and flooding through well-planned embankments and dredging.
He shared the assessment on Friday during an exchange meeting at the Oboshor Rest House after inspecting the Teesta Barrage, Bangladesh’s largest irrigation project, in Hatibandha Upazila under Lalmonirhat.
The minister said a technical team and experts had gathered at the prime minister's direction to work out how best to tackle the problem.
"If we carry out properly planned dam construction and dredging, we will be able to protect the people of this region from river erosion and flooding," he said.
Touching upon the severity of upstream runoff and bank erosion, Anee said that neighbouring India opening the gates of the Gajoldoba Barrage created a powerful rush of water.
According to him, this sharp, strong current causes the Teesta banks to give way, triggering large-scale river erosion.
"The overflow is so severe that people in the area are finding it hard to live," he said, adding that sustainable embankments and dredging would be fast-tracked to ease their suffering.
Highlighting the Teesta Master Plan, the minister said it is essential not only for the northern region but also for the country as a whole.
“Teesta is not just the sorrow of Lalmonirhat or Rangpur; it is the sorrow of the whole of Bangladesh. Completing the visible work of this masterplan may take two to four years, or even six to seven years.”
He added, "But the benefits that come from it will invigorate the entire economy of Bangladesh and strengthen its foundations. The suffering of five districts will then turn into productivity and joy."
On next steps, the minister said several more meetings would be held before a special seminar at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology.
The mega-project would then be put before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for final approval, modelled on the Padma Barrage project, he added.
