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Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee
The national roadmap for the long-awaited Padma Barrage project will be made fully operational and visible on the ground by January or February next year, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee announced on Tuesday.
Underlining the socio-economic importance of the undertaking, the minister stated that the livelihood, irrigation, and water security of nearly 70 million citizens spanning 24 to 26 districts are directly tied to the construction of the barrage.
Addressing as the chief guest a national seminar titled "Ganges Water Treaty: Issues for Renegotiation" at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) auditorium in Dhanmondi, Anee also conveyed optimism that the Prime Minister will present a robust, fact-based case for Bangladesh regarding the renewal and restructuring of the Ganges Water Treaty at the United Nations General Assembly next month.
Endorsing strategic points raised by sector specialists at the seminar, the minister advocated for embedding transparent data-sharing protocols into all future transboundary river compacts and underscored the necessity of restoring the historic guarantee clause that was excluded after the 1977 bilateral arrangement.
Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad drew attention to the acute siltation and navigability loss across the country’s 54 common international rivers, calling for unified public awareness and structured state policies to secure long-term hydrological stability.
Former adviser to the interim administration and Dhaka University law professor Asif Nazrul delivered the keynote presentation titled "Ganges Treaty: New Thinking Needed." BILIA Honorary Director Prof. Muhammad Ekramul Haque gave the welcome address, while environmental engineer and Stamford University Bangladesh Emeritus Professor Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed joined as the designated discussant, advising policymakers to systematically calculate sector-wise water requirements under an integrated water management framework prior to entering bilateral renegotiations.
The seminar concluded with observations by BILIA Chairman Dr. Borhan Uddin Khan, with senior civil servants, legal practitioners, academics, researchers, and diplomats in attendance.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/bangladesh/1f19b807-de5b-6000-b2e3-59f66b40e198