Water minister calls for fresh review of Naf River border road project

COX’S BAZAR, Sept 22: Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, MP,  held an exchange of views with beneficiaries and local residents in Teknaf on the rehabilitation of polders along the Naf River and later inspected an embankment at Shah Porir Dwip.

The meeting was held in the Teknaf Upazila Parishad conference room at around 11:30am on Tuesday. After the meeting, the minister and officials concerned visited the Westpara embankment at Shah Porir Dwip around 1:30pm and spoke to local residents.

The meeting was organised under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Naf River Polders (67/A, 67, 67/B and 68) in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas for improving Bangladesh-Myanmar border security in Cox’s Bazar district (2nd revised),” being implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) under the Ministry of Water Resources.

Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee attended the meeting as the chief guest. State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad and Shahjahan Chowdhury, lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhia-Teknaf), were present as special guests.

The BWDB chairman, secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and senior officials from relevant agencies also attended the meeting. Local political leaders and elected representatives were present as well.

The discussions focused on rehabilitation of the polders along the Naf River border road, the current condition of embankments, project implementation, and problems and expectations of local people.

Beneficiaries and residents shared their views and raised various problems related to the project.

Anee said a large amount of money had already been allocated for the border road and polder rehabilitation project. However, despite repeated allocations and revisions, the project had failed to deliver the expected benefits to the people.

“There are also questions about the justification of repeatedly revising a project and providing additional allocations,” he said.

“We have to take a fresh decision in the public interest. As an elected government, we have a responsibility to the people. The project has now become a burden, but we cannot simply leave it unfinished. It must also be completed,” the minister said.

He said the project would be taken up afresh, keeping national and public interests in mind and considering the need to ensure border security, control floods and dredge rivers, among other facilities for local people.

“This may take some time, as the next steps will be taken only after technical surveys and necessary assessments are completed,” he said.

Anee said the project must take into account agriculture, people's livelihoods and the environment.

“We will take initiatives to implement the project again with the cooperation of local people,” he said.

Later, the minister and officials inspected the Westpara embankment at Shah Porir Dwip. He spoke to local residents and learned about the current condition of the embankment, river erosion and other related problems.