A project worth Tk685.86 crore to protect vast areas of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from the continuous erosion of Meghna River will be presented for approval at a meeting of executive committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday.
The project, titled “Protection of Shibpur, Dhaniya and Medua areas under Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from the erosion of Meghna River,” is to be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) between March 2026 and June 2030.
Entirely funded by the government, the initiative includes 4 kilometres of riverbank protection, 6 kilometres of coastal embankment rehabilitation, 5.2 kilometres of embankment slope protection, and the construction of two drainage structures.
High cost per kilometre
The most significant expenditure is allocated to riverbank protection, with Tk503.77 crore earmarked for just 4 kilometres. This brings the cost to approximately Tk125.94 crore per kilometre, a figure that drew queries during Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting.
Sources revealed that the initial cost proposal for this sector was Tk505.46 crore. Following instructions from Planning Commission, the provision for emergency geo-bag stockpiling was removed, reducing the cost by a modest Tk1.69 crore.
In its technical justification, BWDB explained that the scour depth of Meghna River in the project area reaches minus 33 metres, with water current speeds peaking at 3.6 metres per second.
To ensure permanent protection, a heavy design incorporating 50 to 70-metre-long aprons, geo-bags, and concrete blocks have been adopted.
The BWDB noted in Development Project Proforma (DPP) that further cost reductions would require decreasing the dumping volume, which would compromise the effectiveness of the erosion prevention.
PEC recommendations
The PEC directed several modifications beyond riverbank protection costs. For an 800-metre stretch of embankment in Medua union of Daulatkhan, the committee ordered the construction of a soil embankment with turfing instead of using concrete blocks.
It also requested that costs for embankment rehabilitation and slope protection be shown separately, with soil requirements presented on a table for every 200 to 250 metres.
Additionally, the cost for two drainage structures was capped at Tk31 crore, and price and physical contingencies were limited to a maximum of Tk40 lakh. The annual post-project maintenance budget was slashed from Tk7.30 crore to Tk3.61 crore. The commission also insisted that the procurement methods and approving authorities be clearly specified in the procurement plan.
Economic and social impact
According to the BWDB, the project will safeguard public and private assets worth approximately Tk3,804.39 crore from river erosion.
Also, 2,200 hectares of agricultural land will be protected from waterlogging, and the implementation phase is expected to generate employment for approximately 65,472 people.
The project background highlights that intense erosion in Shibpur, Dhaniya, and Medua unions threatens thousands of acres of farmland, homesteads, educational institutions, hospitals, and markets annually. Saline water intrusion through damaged coastal embankments has been flooding agricultural land and causing prolonged waterlogging.
Recommending the project for approval, the Planning Commission stated that the intervention would protect vital settlements and infrastructure, while simultaneously enhancing the region’s resilience against floods, cyclones, and tidal surges.
