Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday said the government would implement the Teesta Barrage Master Plan at any cost as a national priority to address the long-standing water crisis in northern Bangladesh.
Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in Parliament, the prime minister said the government was committed to finding a lasting solution to water shortages affecting the country’s northern districts, particularly in the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.
The parliamentary session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.
The prime minister said concerns over the Teesta and Padma rivers had repeatedly been raised by lawmakers representing northern constituencies.
He added that the government had already taken steps to construct the Padma Barrage to retain excess monsoon water and ensure irrigation during the dry season.
“The government will implement the Teesta Barrage Master Plan at any cost on a national priority basis,” he said.
20,000km canal excavation plan
To improve irrigation and water management, Tarique Rahman announced a five-year programme to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country.
He said many regions experience flooding during the monsoon but face water shortages for irrigation during the dry season due to inadequate water retention and distribution systems.
According to the prime minister, around 900 kilometres of canals have already been excavated over the past three months as part of the initiative.
Farmer loan waiver and new support card
Tarique Rahman said the government had waived agricultural loans of up to Tk10,000, including accrued interest, for 13 lakh farmers during its first cabinet meeting after taking office.
He also announced plans to introduce a Farmer Card, through which eligible farmers would receive Tk2,500 annually in direct financial assistance, along with access to ten additional government benefits.
The government aims to distribute the cards to approximately 43 lakh farmers during the 2026-27 fiscal year, he said.
Creative economy, sports to receive greater focus
The prime minister said the government planned to bring sectors such as film, theatre, music, OTT platforms, digital content, gaming, fashion, and software under the broader framework of the creative economy.
He said the initiative was expected to create employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange earnings.
Tarique Rahman also announced a National Honorarium Framework for athletes who achieve success at home and abroad.
He said the government was working to introduce sports as an independent subject in the national curriculum within the next year to encourage young people to pursue athletics professionally.
He added that a sports talent development programme, modelled on former president Ziaur Rahman’s Notun Kuri initiative, was also under consideration.
‘Probashi Card’ planned
The prime minister said the government is working to introduce a “Probashi Card” to provide immediate assistance to Bangladeshi expatriates in dealing with everyday problems they face both while living abroad and after returning to Bangladesh.
He said the government was establishing contacts with new countries to facilitate the overseas employment of more skilled Bangladeshi workers, as part of its efforts to expand access to global labour markets.
Focus on energy and education reforms
Tarique Rahman said the government is prioritising domestic gas exploration and expanding renewable energy to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
He criticised the previous administration, alleging that it had neglected domestic energy exploration and allowed irregularities in the sector.
On education, the prime minister said the government intended to rebuild the country’s education system with a focus on producing skilled graduates with strong ethical values.
He said investing in human capital would remain central to the government’s long-term development strategy.
