Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday informed Parliament that the government is considering constructing another barrage on the Teesta River to conserve water during the dry season and improve irrigation in northern Bangladesh.
Replying to a question from NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen (Rangpur-4), the prime minister said technical and financial feasibility assessments are currently underway for the proposed project.
He said that the Teesta River plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of people in northern districts, but reduced upstream water flow during the dry season adversely affects irrigation and agriculture.
During the monsoon, excessive upstream rainfall often triggers flash floods and riverbank erosion in downstream areas, he added.
Tarique Rahman said riverbank protection works spanning 42.5 kilometres are currently being implemented in Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat districts at a cost of Tk230 crore. The project is expected to be completed this month.
He also informed the Parliament that a feasibility study for a comprehensive and sustainable Teesta development programme has already been completed.
According to the study, the proposed Teesta Master Plan includes river training and protection works along 110 kilometres of the river, dredging of another 110 kilometres, construction of 224 kilometres of flood-control embankments with roads on top, and development of 170 square kilometres of reclaimed land.
Replying to a separate question from treasury bench lawmaker Robiul Awal (Tangail-6), the prime minister said the proposed Tk34,347 crore Padma Barrage Project is expected to contribute an additional 0.45 percentage point to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said the project would enable the generation of 113 megawatts of hydropower while enhancing water conservation in the Padma River during the dry season.
The prime minister mentioned that the first phase of the project involving Tk 34,347 crore received approval on 13 May. Once implemented, it will revitalise river systems in Padma-dependent areas, reduce salinity intrusion in the southern region, improve drainage networks, lessen waterlogging, expand irrigation facilities and strengthen water security.
He also said the project would help restore the ecological balance of the Sundarbans.
Highlighting the government’s climate initiatives, Tarique Rahman said a programme has been launched to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years.
He added that the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust has prioritised research, innovation and adaptation measures, including the creation of rural reservoirs in coastal areas to preserve rainwater and enhance drinking water security.
The prime minister said the government is preparing a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Investment Roadmap with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to address the impacts of climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Alongside adaptation measures, the government has begun formulating the Third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the plan, 25 per cent of the country’s electricity demand will be met from renewable energy sources by 2035. The government also plans to establish four waste-to-energy plants, 26 integrated landfill and resource recovery facilities, and implement afforestation and reforestation programmes covering 100,000 hectares of coastal, island and degraded land.
Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Md Abdullah (Munshiganj-1), the prime minister said the government has adopted several measures to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio.
He noted that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has already adopted a Medium and Long-Term Revenue Strategy (MLTRS) to achieve this goal.
He expressed hope that the measures would increase the tax-to-GDP ratio by two percentage points within a year and raise it to 10 per cent within five years, with a long-term target of 15 per cent by 2035.
On transport connectivity, Tarique Rahman told Parliament that the government plans to gradually establish an expressway network on national highways and develop a multimodal transport system to ease pressure on roads.
He said 24 projects have been identified under the Railway Master Plan to strengthen Bangladesh Railway as the backbone of the national transport system through short-, medium- and long-term implementation strategies extending to 2045.
The prime minister also announced plans to introduce electric traction on major railway routes to reduce travel time and ensure safer, environmentally friendly transportation.
Replying to another question from treasury bench lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswas (Pabna-5), he said the government is working to increase the use of surface water in Dhaka and divisional cities to reduce dependence on groundwater.
According to the prime minister, Dhaka WASA currently sources 65 to 70 per cent of its water from groundwater and the remainder from surface water sources, including the Padma, Meghna and Shitalakkhya rivers.
He said water treatment plants at Gandharbpur in Rupganj and Saidabad are helping increase the supply of treated surface water to address the declining groundwater table in the capital.
The prime minister added that Chattogram WASA now obtains about 92 per cent of its water from surface sources, while Rajshahi WASA continues to rely heavily on groundwater, with only two percent of its supply coming from surface water.
On the ongoing measles situation, Tarique Rahman said the government is giving the highest priority to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to prevent outbreaks.
He said authorities are regularly reviewing the causes of measles transmission and assessing vaccination-related policies and operational challenges.
Any negligence identified in vaccine procurement or immunisation activities will be addressed in accordance with existing laws and regulations, he added.
