A strong political commitment is essential to build the long-pending Padma barrage and the proposed second Padma bridge, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.
He said that the lives and livelihoods of nearly eight聽 crore people were linked to the Padma barrage and the second Padma bridge, but very unfortunately no final decisions were made in these regards even after seven rounds of feasibility studies.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled 鈥楾he Need for Implementation of the Padma Barrage and Second Padma Bridge鈥�, at the BRAC Centre at Mohakhali in the capital, Fakhrul said that such critical infrastructures could only be built if citizens raise their voices and demand action.
He urged citizens to unite beyond political differences and remain firm in their demand, stressing that whichever government comes to power must take action on the issues.
Drawing attention to the environmental and human impact of the Farakka Barrage, Fakhrul said that the negative consequences of the barrage were no longer confined to districts like Faridpur or Rajbari but had also become a pressing issue for the entire southern region.
Recalling that Maulana Bhasani took the Farakka Barrage issue to the international stage, Fakhrul observed that there should be a similar public awakening for the proposed Padma projects.
He said that the movement should continue in the spirit of Bhasani鈥檚 movement, adding that united efforts could make anything possible.
Fakhrul reiterated that his party had pledged to build a second Padma bridge.
Centre for Policy Dialogue distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya raised concerns over the lack of discussions and preparations regarding the renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, set to expire next year.
He said that the Farakka Barrage in India severely affected up to one-third of Bangladesh鈥檚 people and land, yet no technical or strategic dialogue was taking place to safeguard national interests in future negotiations.
Commenting on the Padma barrage project, Debapriya called for its inclusion in the revised budget, expected after the general elections in February, 2026, and stressed the need for a new medium-term development plan.
Eminent water expert and former BRAC University vice-chancellor Professor Ainun Nishat warned that without the construction of the proposed Ganges barrage, the future of Bangladesh鈥檚 southwestern region could be bleak.
He said that areas such as Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Barguna were already experiencing negative population growth as people are fleeing the areas due to uninhabitable conditions.
He criticised the lack of political will behind the failure to implement the barrage project, saying that technical experts might provide analysis but the decisions on such infrastructures were ultimately political.
Referring to the 1996 water-sharing treaty with India, Ainun Nishat said that although Bangladesh was to receive 35,000 cusecs of water, it had often received far less.
Delivering just 10,000 cusecs to the Jashore-Khulna region could help protect the area, he added.
Economist and BRAC chair Hossain Zillur Rahman said that Bangladesh was experiencing a political turning point, where the main concern was not just the political structure but also the direction and nature of future politics.
He emphasised the importance of capable and transparent leadership, pointing out that political governance should reflect the hopes and expectations of the people.
The seminar was chaired by the National Committee for the Implementation of the Padma Barrage and Second Padma Bridge president Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khaiyam.
Speakers at the event included Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh general secretary Saiful Haque, Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, North South University vice-chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury and Water Development Board former director general Mahfuzur Rahman.
