We are moving forward on the path of constructing Padma Barrage under the leadership of Tarique Rahman: Minister

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has informed that the inauguration of the Padma Barrage project will be announced by March of next year. He said the government is moving forward on the path of implementing the Padma Barrage project under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The Water Resources Minister said these words while talking to journalists after inspecting the project area at the char of the Padma river in Habaspur of Pangsha upazila of Rajbari on Friday afternoon.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said the entire work of the Padma Barrage project will be implemented with domestic financing. Once the project is implemented, people of 24 districts of the country will get its benefits. Through this, power generation, increase in fish production and massive changes in agriculture will come. At the same time the economy of the country will also become more prosperous.

The minister said former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had conducted the survey of this project in 2004. After a long time the project received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in 2026. Now under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman progress is being made towards implementation of the project.

He further said the government is also implementing the canal excavation programme of former President Ziaur Rahman. As per the election manifesto 20 thousand kilometres of canals have already been re-excavated across the country.

Earlier the first phase construction project of Padma Barrage was approved at the Ecnec meeting on May 13. The estimated cost of the project has been fixed at Tk 34,497 crore.

During the inspection of the project area Economic and Planning Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hosen Azad, State Minister for Cultural Affairs and Rajbari-1 MP Ali Newaz Mahmud Khoyyam and Rajbari-2 MP Md Harun-or-Rashid were present.