Jashore: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit today announced the government’s commitment to finding a permanent solution to the longstanding waterlogging issue in the Bhabodah area. Addressing a gathering as the chief guest at a workshop in the Jashore Shilpakala Academy auditorium, Amit assured that affected residents would receive proper compensation and the problem would be addressed promptly, underscoring the government’s dedication to resolving the matter.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event focused on improving drainage management and formulating a sustainable agricultural and environmental plan for Bangladesh’s south-western region. Amit highlighted that the communities in Monirampur, Keshabpur, Abhaynagar, Sadar upazilas of Jashore, and Dumuria and Phultala upazilas of Khulna would be liberated from the persistent waterlogging issue. He also criticized previous governments for not taking effective measures to solve the problem.
The workshop featu
red several notable figures, including Members of Parliament Golam Rasul from Jessore-4, Gazi Enamul Haque from Jessore-5, and Mostafa Ali from Jessore-6, who participated as special guests. During the event, Sheikh Nahiduzzaman, a Senior Specialist from the consulting firm Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), presented insights from a feasibility study project initiated by the Water Development Board.
The feasibility study aims to develop a sustainable plan to mitigate the waterlogging in Bhabodah and improve the livelihoods of agriculture-dependent communities in the region. Sheikh Nahiduzzaman explained that surveys were conducted in Monirampur, Keshabpur, Abhaynagar, and Sadar upazilas of Jessore, along with Dumuria and Phultala upazilas of Khulna, covering an area of approximately 98,000 hectares. The study involved surveys of rivers, canals, and beels, as well as mathematical modeling and assessments of agricultural, social, environmental, and economic impacts.
Proposed solutions from the study include
short-, medium-, and long-term measures for the Bhabodah and Bil Dakatia areas. These include the excavation of rivers and connecting canals, installation of additional drainage pumping stations, construction of pilot channels, revival of Tidal River Management (TRM) by reconnecting beels with rivers, removal of encroachments from floodplains, and replacing the Bhabodah regulator with a bridge to ensure natural tidal flow.
The workshop was attended by experts, public representatives, officials from various government departments, stakeholders involved in water management, and district BNP leaders.