Tk33,474cr Padma Barrage project gets govt approval

The government has approved the implementation of the ambitious Padma Barrage project involving an estimated cost of Tk 33,474.45 crore, aiming to revive river systems, improve irrigation, reduce salinity intrusion and strengthen water management across large parts of Bangladesh.

The approval came at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

The project, titled “Padma Barrage (1st Phase)”, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board under the Ministry of Water Resources entirely through government funding. The implementation period has been fixed from July 2026 to June 2033.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said the project is expected to benefit nearly seven crore people in 24 districts by improving river flow, irrigation facilities and agricultural productivity.

According to project officials, the scheme will cover 19 districts under Khulna, Dhaka, Rajshahi and Barishal divisions and focus on restoring major river systems, including the Gorai-Madhumati, Hisna-Mathabhanga, Chandana-Barashia, Baral and Ichamati rivers.

The project aims to tackle long-standing dry-season water shortages linked to upstream diversion caused by India’s Farakka Barrage. Officials said declining water flow over the decades has severely affected agriculture, fisheries, navigation, biodiversity and freshwater availability in southwestern Bangladesh.

The proposed infrastructure includes construction of a 2.1-kilometre Padma Barrage featuring 78 sluice gates, navigation locks, fish passes, undersluices, guide embankments and approach embankments.

The scheme also includes dredging and river restoration works, re-excavation of river channels, and construction of 180 kilometres of embankments to improve flood control and drainage management.

Authorities said the project would help reduce salinity intrusion in coastal districts such as Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat while improving freshwater supply to the Sundarbans ecosystem.

Two hydropower plants with a combined generation capacity of 113 megawatts are also planned under the initiative.

The government believes the Padma Barrage project will play a major role in strengthening food security, restoring ecological balance, boosting employment and accelerating economic development in the country’s southwest region.