Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Tuesday described the Ukhiya-Teknaf border road and Naf River polder rehabilitation project as a liability, saying a fresh technical survey would be conducted to determine its future course.
Speaking to journalists after an exchange-of-views meeting at the Teknaf Upazila Parishad conference room on Tuesday, he said the project had failed to meet public expectations despite repeated revisions and additional allocations.
He said any decision on restarting the project would be taken considering public interest, border security, agriculture, local livelihoods and environmental concerns.
Earlier in the morning, the minister arrived in Cox’s Bazar and travelled to Teknaf through the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive to attend the meeting with local residents and beneficiaries at 11:30am.
The discussion was held under the second revision of the project titled “Rehabilitation Project of Naf River Polders (67/A, 67, 67/B and 68) in Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas for Improving Security at the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border in Cox’s Bazar District”.
The project is being implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources.
Questioning the repeated revisions and additional funding for the project, Anee said the scheme was revised three times and received additional allocations in 2017, 2022 and 2025, but ultimately failed to serve the public interest.
“Now the project has become a burden. But work cannot remain stalled; it has to be completed,” he said.
The minister said the elected government is accountable to the people and that technical experts would be engaged for a fresh assessment.
He added that cooperation from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) would be sought for a comprehensive study before taking further decisions on the project.
On the border situation, Anee said, “We do not want any more people from across the Myanmar border. The government will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent infiltration. The government is working to ensure border security and prevent smuggling and drug trafficking.”
He said the impact of the border road on local people’s agriculture and livelihoods would also be taken into consideration.
“The project must move forward by balancing people’s livelihoods, agriculture and environmental concerns,” he added.
At the exchange-of-views meeting, discussions were held on the rehabilitation of polders along the Naf River, the current condition of embankments, river erosion, challenges in project implementation and expectations of local residents.
Local beneficiaries and residents highlighted various problems with the project and shared their expectations with the minister.
The meeting was attended by Water Resources Ministry State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhiya-Teknaf) constituency MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, the chairman of Bangladesh Water Development Board, the secretary of the Water Resources Ministry and senior officials of relevant departments.
Local political leaders and public representatives were also present.
After the meeting, the minister visited the Shah Porir Dwip West Para embankment in Teknaf at around 1:30pm along with officials concerned. He spoke to local residents and inquired about the current condition of the embankment, river erosion and other related issues.
Later, after visiting the project area at around 3:30pm, the minister left Teknaf for Chattogram.
