The government is giving top priority to preventing erosion along the Teesta River, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to Environment, Forest and Climate Change, during a visit to several ongoing river protection works in Kurigram and Rangpur districts.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday near the Gharialdanga Khitabkha Government Primary School in Rajarhat Upazila, the advisor informed that riverbank protection work is already underway along 19 kilometers of the most erosion-prone stretches of the river. Funding has been secured for the remaining 26 kilometers of the targeted 45-kilometer stretch, with construction expected to begin shortly.
“The government is working on a priority basis to safeguard vulnerable areas along the Teesta,” Rizwana Hasan said. She acknowledged public demand for a permanent embankment to curb river erosion, calling it “legitimate,” but added that such long-term projects require extensive planning and time.
“In the meantime, we are focusing on emergency protection works to mitigate immediate threats to communities,” she added.
Addressing questions from the media, the advisor emphasized that Bangladesh’s claim to a fair share of Teesta’s waters is justified. “The Teesta water-sharing treaty is a rightful demand of our people, and the government is pursuing it in line with international law,” she stated.
Rizwana Hasan also shared updates on the Teesta Master Plan, revealing that five public hearings have already been held involving both local and international experts. “Recommendations from these sessions have been submitted to the concerned ministries. The final plan will be based on expert consensus,” she said.
During the visit, she was accompanied by top officials, including Md. Enayet Ullah, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Engineer, Rangpur BWDB, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nusrat Sultana, Superintendent of Police Md. Mahfuzur Rahman, Rangpur Region Forest Conservator Md. Subedar Islam, Department of Environment Director General Nur Alam, and Kurigram BWDB Executive Engineer Md. Rakibul Islam.
Later, Rizwana Hasan visited river protection work near Gatiasham Clinic in Rajarhat and inspected right-bank protection efforts upstream of the Panjarbhanga Railway Bridge in Kaunia Upazila, Rangpur. She also spoke with local residents to hear their concerns firsthand.