Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Friday (14 March) assured that the river embankment work would be carried out with full transparency and without corruption while inspecting the Tk3,100 crore riverbank protection embankment project in the Matabbarhat area of Kamalnagar upazila.
Construction of the 37-kilometre embankment is currently underway in Ramgati and Kamalnagar upazilas.
The minister criticised the previous government, saying, “Those who were in power before looted funds meant for the project and laundered money abroad. They are now under investigation.”
He added that departmental action would be taken against officials involved in corruption, noting that previous mismanagement had deprived local people of essential protection.
Highlighting the impact of inadequate embankments, the minister said, “Residents of these riverine areas have lost homes and land, and crop production has been affected. Protecting them from the erosion of the Meghna River is our top priority.”
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is committed to the development of local communities.
Anee instructed the companies involved to complete the work quickly so that tangible progress is visible before the next monsoon, and urged vigilance to maintain the quality of the project.
