The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a Tk 605.24 crore project to protect Shibpur, Dhania and Medua areas of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan upazilas from erosion of the Meghna River.
The project was approved at an ECNEC meeting held on Tuesday, September 29. According to reports on the approved project, implementation is scheduled from October 2026 to December 2030.
The project will include riverbank protection, embankment protection and protection of embankment slopes, along with works related to water drainage and water control.
The total estimated cost of the project is Tk 605.24 crore. Its primary objective is to protect the targeted areas of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan from erosion caused by the Meghna River.
News of the approval has generated a positive response among residents of the affected areas, who have long faced the risk of river erosion. Local reports said residents expressed appreciation for the approval of the project.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) in Bhola also reacted to the project approval. At a meeting with journalists at the party’s district office at around 7pm on Tuesday, district president Amirul Islam Ratan and general secretary Motachhin Billah spoke about the project.
District BJP president Amirul Islam Ratan said Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho has been working to fulfil commitments related to preventing river erosion in Bhola. He described the project approval as important for the people of the district.
General secretary Motachhin Billah said Partho was also working to establish a medical college in Bhola to improve access to healthcare. He also said initiatives had been taken through the administration to address drug-related problems in the district.
Among those present at the meeting were BJP organising secretary Professor Nurnabi, district executive committee member Abdus Sattar Kabir, Sadar upazila BJP general secretary Bulbul Hossain, district Jubo Sanghati joint convener Sardar Kamal Hossain, Jubo Party leader Sujon Howladar and National Chhatra Samaj Bhola district member secretary Mohammad Hossain, along with other party leaders and activists.
Executive Engineer Md Zia Uddin Arif of Bangladesh Water Development Board’s Division-1 in Bhola said the project was a major initiative for preventing river erosion. He said its implementation would help protect homes, agricultural land and important structures in the affected areas from erosion risks.
The Tk 605.24 crore Bhola erosion-protection project was among the projects approved at Tuesday’s ECNEC meeting, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha and other reports.
