Water resources and environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan at a discussion in Dhaka on Saturday said that the Bangladesh Water Development Board must establish a closer relationship with the people.
鈥楾he BWDB must respond to complaints and applications received from the public, reassure them, acknowledge their grievances and take prompt remedial measures for their resolution,鈥� said Rizwana Hasan while speaking at the discussion titled Reforms in the Water Sector on the occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Water Development Board at the Multipurpose Hall of Pani Bhaban on the Green Road.聽
She directed the chief engineers of all nine zones of the Water Development Board, along with other senior engineers, to regularly visit the field during this monsoon season, and also instructed the zonal chief engineers to strengthen field-level monitoring activities to ensure immediate response and minimize damage to people.
The water resources adviser further announced the formation of a task force ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
This task force, led by secretary of water resources, will comprise the director general, additional DG and the nine chief engineers from the nine zones across the country.
This task force will identify areas requiring urgent intervention and work during the monsoon.
She also stated that after the monsoon season, the Ministry of Water Resources would award the chief engineer among the nine zonal chief engineers who would perform best and had no corruption allegations against them.
Similarly, among the young engineers in the nine zones, the one who performs best and has no corruption allegations will also be rewarded by the Ministry of Water Resources.
Rizwana Hasan mentioned that the action plan for freeing the Turag River from encroachment and pollution is nearing finalisation, and they hope to officially commence the Turag River clean-up operation from next September.
鈥業n this regard, the ADB has assured to undertake the beautification work of the Turag,鈥� she mentioned, adding that they would finalise the plan for freeing the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Sitalakhya rivers from encroachment and pollution.
She also stated that they had developed an action plan to clean 64 rivers from 64 districts of Bangladesh. 鈥楩rom this, we are finalising the plan for 12 rivers in total, including seven rivers from seven divisions, the Bakkhali River in Cox鈥檚 Bazar, and the four rivers surrounding Dhaka.鈥�
Furthermore, they will begin work to free the Labandah, Haridhoya and Sutang rivers from encroachment and pollution, with funding allocated from the Climate Change Trust Fund.
Shyamal Chandra Das, additional chief engineer of the Water Development Board, presented a speech highlighting the significance of the day.
Other speakers at the event included Ministry of Water Resources鈥� secretary Md Nazmul Ahsan and Water Development Board director general Md Tahmidul Islam.
Water Development Board additional DG Mizanur Rahman gave the welcome speech. ANM Bazlur Rashid, additional secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, along with senior officials of the ministry, heads of various departments and agencies under the ministry, additional director generals, chief engineers, and other senior officials of the Water Development Board, were present at the discussion.
