Bangladesh will address the issues of flood damage with India, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (23 September).
“There’s no reason why India shouldn’t notify us before opening their dams. Now we have the full assessment of the damages. We will definitely raise the issue with India,” she told reporters after inspecting the erosion-prone areas of the Gomti River in Cumilla’s Burichong.
She emphasised the need for India to notify Bangladesh before opening dams, as increased rainfall exacerbates flooding in the country.
Rizwana, also the water resources adviser, said, “We will seek flood and rainfall data from India and initiate discussions regarding water sharing of common rivers.”
She noted that multilateral discussions involving other countries sharing basins of common rivers will be initiated alongside India to address the issue more comprehensively.
About river encroachers, the adviser said, “There is a list of river grabbers now and actions will be taken accordingly.
“Divisional commissioners have been given two months deadline to submit a plan to make all rivers of the country free from encroachment,” she added.
With the cooperation of the commoners, she said, it will be possible to recover rivers, canals, and water bodies.
The secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, the director general of the Water Development Board, officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh Water Development Board, as well as people from various professions, were present.
