Dhaka: Water Resources and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today emphasized the need for the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to forge closer connections with the public. She highlighted the importance of the BWDB responding to public complaints and applications, acknowledging grievances, and taking swift remedial actions to resolve them.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Adviser Rizwana delivered these remarks during a discussion titled 'Reforms in the Water Sector' held on the occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the BWDB at the Multipurpose Hall of Pani Bhaban in the city. She urged the chief engineers of all nine zones of the Water Development Board, along with other senior engineers, to conduct regular field visits throughout the monsoon season. Additionally, she instructed the zonal chief engineers to enhance field-level monitoring to ensure rapid responses and minimize damage to the public.
In preparation for the upcoming monsoon season, the adviser announced the formation of a task force led by the secretary of the Water Resources ministry. This task force will include the director general, additional director general, and the nine chief engineers from across the country, tasked with identifying areas needing urgent intervention during the monsoon.
Adviser Rizwana also mentioned that the Ministry of Water Resources will award the chief engineer among the nine zonal chief engineers who performs best and is free of corruption allegations after the monsoon season. She further stated that the action plan for freeing the Turag River from encroachment and pollution is nearing completion, with hopes to officially commence the clean-up operation from next September. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed to undertaking the beautification work of the Turag.
The adviser assured that plans for freeing the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakshya rivers from encroachment and pollution are being finalized, ensuring continuity for the next government. Moreover, an action plan is in place to clean 64 rivers across 64 districts in Bangladesh, with finalization underway for 12 rivers, including seven rivers from seven divisions, the Bakkhali River in Cox's Bazar, and the four rivers surrounding Dhaka.
Plans to free the Labandah, Haridhoya, and Sutang rivers from encroachment and pollution are also in progress, with funding allocated from the Climate Change Trust Fund. The event was addressed by other notable figures, including Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Md. Nazmul Ahsan and Director General of BWDB Md. Tahmidul Islam, among others.