Dhaka:Bangladesh is undertaking various projects to manage its water resources more effectively, aiming to restore rivers, protect agriculture, and address environmental challenges. These initiatives include river restoration, flood protection, and improvements in irrigation and drainage.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Water Resources plans to excavate and re-excavate 680 kilometers of canals, irrigation canals, and drainage channels by fiscal year 2026-27. This is part of a larger initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometers of such waterways over the next five years. Special efforts are being made to restore and free at least one river in each division from encroachment, with projects targeting the Dhaleshwari, Louhajang, Alaikuri, Mogra, Salta, Sutang, Bakkhali, and Barnai rivers.
Additionally, the ministry has developed a Water Quality Index for rivers surrounding Dhaka and a real-time dashboard for monitoring groundwater levels using artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies. A separate project will identify canals nationwide and develop a GIS-based canal network.
For flood protection, the government has set a target for FY2026-27 to construct, reconstruct, and rehabilitate 309 kilometers of embankments and flood walls, and to improve river navigability over 484 kilometers. Concurrently, work is underway to cover 292 kilometers of embankments and flood walls as part of a 180-Day Programme for Flood Protection.
The Padma Barrage (Phase-I) project has been approved, focusing on conserving and regulating water in the Padma River. The project, running from July 2026 to June 2033, aims to construct a 2.1-kilometer main barrage and a hydropower plant at Pangsha in Rajbari. It is expected to store 2,900 million cubic meters of water annually, support agricultural production, and prevent salinity intrusion in the Padma basin, including the Sundarbans.
The project will also provide irrigation to 2.88 million hectares of land, potentially increasing rice production by 20.39 million tonnes and fish production by 2.34 million tonnes annually. It is anticipated to benefit people in 120 upazilas across 19 districts, impacting around 37 percent of the country's population.
The government is also pursuing the 'Comprehensive Management and Restoration of the Teesta River Project', known as the Teesta Master Plan, to enhance livelihoods in northern Bangladesh.