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Published : 29 Apr 2026, 03:41 PM
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has proposed dredging 110km of the Teesta riverbed in its latest feasibility study for the Teesta Master Plan.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman shared the update during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, responding to a question from Gaibandha-1 MP Majedur Rahman.
Tarique noted that technical and financial assessments of the submitted feasibility report are currently undergoing multi-level scrutiny, adding that a definitive timeline for the work will be set once these evaluations yield a positive technical verdict.
The Teesta Master Plan is a comprehensive development framework designed to transform northern Bangladesh through integrated river management, flood control, enhanced irrigation, and economic expansion.
The blueprint includes riverbank protection, dredging, widening the channel, and developing reservoirs and barrages.
By modernising the irrigation network, the government aims to mitigate water scarcity during the dry season and curb the devastating risks of monsoon flooding.
Successfully executing the project is expected to bolster agricultural output in the Rangpur region, generate fresh employment, and reduce riverbank erosion.
The initiative also seeks to unlock the potential for river-based industries and tourism.
Transboundary water sharing, however, remains a formidable hurdle.
With Bangladesh’s water levels heavily dependent on upstream management in India, seasonal flows fluctuate wildly.
Consequently, the project’s ultimate success hinges largely on a functional water-sharing treaty between the two neighbours.
The prime minister told the parliament that the Teesta is a high-velocity river prone to flash floods and erosion during heavy monsoon rains.
He pointed out that the water flow drops to near-zero levels in many areas during the dry season.
The BNP chief explained that the riverbed is being choked by massive silt deposits carried by monsoon currents, causing the river to split into multiple fragmented channels.
The project’s design was originally finalised in 2016 following a study by the Chinese state-owned firm PowerChina and the BWDB.
Geopolitical interests later saw India express a strong desire to finance the plan, which led to the project being sidelined during the previous Awami League administration.
Following the political changeover in August 2024, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus revived the initiative with Chinese backing.
The first phase is now targeted for completion by 2029.
This five-year initial stage carries an estimated cost of Tk 90 billion ($750 million), with the government seeking Tk 67 billion ($550 million) in loans from China while covering the remainder from the national treasury.
Authorities anticipate that the project will revolutionise the lives of roughly 20 million residents in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Gaibandha.
