Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh will request upstream countries like China, India, Nepal and Bhutan to provide flood
forecasting data in time to mitigate sufferings of people caused by the natural disaster, said Syeda
Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to Water Resources Ministry here today.
In this connection, she said the present interim government will continue regular engagements with
these countries to this end.
"Efforts will also be taken to provide timely flood forecasts to the people in simple language," the
adviser said while presiding over a review meeting of the activities of different departments under the
Ministry of Water Resources at the conference room of “Pani Bhaban” in the capital.
She said public hearings would be conducted in Feni and Cumilla, the areas recently severely affected by
floods, to this end and future actions will be taken on the basis of public feedback.
She, however, said that all barriers to ensure the natural flow of rivers must be removed. To this end,
she directed the relevant authorities to take action against all illegal encroachments, including fisheries
enclosures in the Feni River.
Laying emphasize in preventing crop damage in the Haor regions due to damage of embankments, the
adviser said that approval from the Department of Environment, Department of Haor and Wetlands
Development must be obtained before constructing any infrastructure in the Haor areas.
In addition, Rizwana said all pumps under the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project must be activated and
the extraction of groundwater in the project area must be stopped.
The meeting was attended by Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources and heads of
different departments, among others.
The meeting also discussed the activities of the Joint River Commission (JRC), the flood control
forecasting system of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the progress of activities in Haor areas
and the rehabilitation project under the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project.
The adviser stressed the importance of proper implementation of these projects for the greater national
interest.
Bangladesh to get flood forecasting data timely
