Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, has declared that Bangladesh’s destiny is inseparable from its rivers, asserting that the country will only survive if its rivers are kept alive.
“Bangladesh is a land of rivers. If the rivers survive, the country will survive. The fate of the nation is tied to its rivers,” the minister said while addressing a discussion at the National Press Club on Saturday.
Speaking as the chief guest at an event organised by the Nongor Trust to mark ‘National River Day 2026’, Anee noted that there are approximately 1,415 rivers in the country, both large and small.
“Each of these rivers is a living entity,” he said, adding that public engagement in river management must be increased.
The minister highlighted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in line with his electoral manifesto, is prioritising public welfare through various development initiatives.
“In the next five years, 20,000 kilometres of canals, rivers and reservoirs will be excavated and re-excavated,” he said. Steps are also being taken to prevent illegal encroachment and pollution of canals and rivers alongside excavation work, he added.
Anee further announced that the Padma Barrage project has already been approved.
“The construction of the Padma Barrage will protect the livelihoods, agriculture, fisheries and environmental balance of 24 districts in the southwestern and northwestern regions of the country. It will also restore navigability to the rivers,” he explained.
Regarding the long-pending Teesta project, the minister assured that the master plan would be approved soon after expert opinions and surveys were completed.
The discussion, chaired by Nongor Trust Chairman Suman Shams, was also attended by Anishur Rahman Khokon, MP for Madaripur-3 constituency, and Professor Dr Manjurul Kibria, Vice-Chancellor of BGCT Trust University. River researchers and prominent figures involved in river conservation movements were also present.
