Prime Minister Lays Foundation of 'Pani Bhaban, Asks Officials to Recover Slain Rivers

She hoped that the ministry would be more active for water resources management, protection of the rivers and tackle the climate change impacts as well as playing more dynamic role to protect people from flood, drought, over precipitation, storm and water surge.

The Prime Minister said this while laying foundation of 'Pani Bhaban', the head office of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, at Dhanmondi here today.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also laid foundation stone of the head offices of Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) and Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) which would be constructed at city's Agargaon and Mirpur area.

The Prime Minister said CEGIS and IWM, two important wings of the Water Resources Ministry have immense role in preparing plans and management of the country's natural resources efficiently.

The projects would materialize a long-run demand of the officials and employees of the Water Development Board, she said hoping that it would bring dynamism in the activities of the ministry.

Bangladesh Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) provides world-class services in the field of Water Modelling, Computational Hydraulics and Allied Sciences for improved integrated Water Resources Management.

While Bangladesh Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) is a public trust to support the management of natural resources for sustainable socio-economic development using integrated environmental analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing and information technology.

Minister for Water Resources Anisul Islam Mahmud presided over the function while state minister Mohammad Nazrul Islam Bir Pratik, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Water Resources Ramesh Chandra Sen and secretary of the ministry Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan spoke, among others, on the occasion.

Pointing out the initiative taken by her government for capital dredging of the rivers, the Prime Minister said every year maintenance dredging of the rivers should be carried out to keep the flow of the rivers normal.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken measures for revival of the rivers surrounding Dhaka, stop their pollution and stop surge of industrial sludges into the rivers.

Water Development Board is implementing a project for dredging of the Pungli, Dhaleswari, Bongshee and Turag rivers to improve navigability of the Buriganga and Turag rivers, she said.

The Prime Minister said IWM is the country's lone mathematical modeling service providing organization which is making contribution to the management of water resources very effectively.

Mathematical modeling of Bangabandhu Bridge is a significant work of the IWM, she said adding that the institute is now conducting study on Teesta Barrage Project, Ganges Barrage Project, Padma Bridge Project and a project for excavation of the rivers surrounding Dhaka to bring water from the Jamuna River to improve their navigability.

IWM is also contributing in the carrying out mathematical modeling study of the Ganges River, topographical and physical feature survey and mapping for construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, she said.

Side by side, the Prime Minister said, the IWM is playing significant role in flood forecasting, preparing a master plan for water supply in Dhaka, finding sources of pure drinking water in 148 pourasabhas, waste and sewerage management.

The services of the institute has brightened the country's image in India, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Philippines, Cambodia and Nepal, she said.

Terming the rivers as the blood vessels of riverine Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the river should be kept alive for very existence of Bangladesh.

She recalled the contribution of the officials and employees of Bangladesh Water Development Board in the struggle for country's freedom saying at the call of Bangabandhu in his historic speech on March 7, 1971, they joined movement of non-cooperation and war of liberation against the Pakistani rulers.

After the independence, she said Bangabandhu has taken many historic steps for development of water resources. Bangabandhu constituted the Board in 1972 giving responsibility for development of the water resources, irrigation, flood control and drainage system in the country.

She said the Awami League government, after taking office in 1996, adopted as many as 168 projects under the Board and completed 67 projects. "Next BNP government suspended execution of the other projects when they assumed power in 2001," she mentioned.

Listing the projects of Awami League government for development of water resources, the Prime Minister said the government formulated the National Water Policy in 1999 and the National Water Resources Plan in 2001.

Historic 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Agreement ensured minimum water flow during lean period from 1997. She said the Awami League government established Bangladesh Haor and Waterbody Development Board in 2000 to improve the living condition of two crore people of haor areas.

Sheikh Hasina said her government had completed the dredging of the Gorai River in 2000. But the river filled with siltation against over the years because of inertia of the BNP-Jamaat government to maintain its navigability, causing salinity problems in the southern part of the country including Sundarbans.

Underlining the steps taken by her government for regional cooperation to resolve the water problems of the common rivers of the region, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and India signed "Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development".

A tripartite working group is working for water management in the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin, undertake and implementation of hydro power projects, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government constantly trying for signing of the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement and experts are working for framing the draft of the water sharing agreement of the Dharala, Monu, Muhuri, Khawai and Gomti rivers.

Focusing on the country's current political situation, the Prime Minister said when the present government is taking forward the country, BNP and its cohorts under the banner of 20-party combine started killing people and destroy peace.

After the general election in 2014, Bangladesh was running peacefully. But BNP chairperson became envious when a news came in the newspapers that Bangladesh is ahead of Pakistan in all index.

After publication of the news BNP leader and her cohorts who do not wants progress of Bangladesh, came up with the destructive programmes to obstruct country's prosperity.

She said people hoped that BNP would withdraw its 'siege programme' considering the convenience of the SSC examinees. "Instead of that they declared more tough programme 'hartal' so that the student can not appear at the examinations," she said.

The 20-party combine has turned into a 'poisonous abscess' for the nation, she said urging people to forge unity being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation and resist the evil force