Minister seeks help from neighbours

Delta Plan 2100

Water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud has said it is not possible to implement the ‘Delta Plan 2100’ without a basin-wise approach with the cooperation of India, Nepal and Bhutan. “There is no water in the Teesta river during the dry season. This is a major problem for Bangladesh. We need cooperation from the neighbouring countries to overcome this problem,” the minister said yesterday while addressing a seminar.

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic (BIISS) and General Economics Division (GED) of the planning commission jointly organised the seminar titled ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100’ in the capital’s BIISS auditorium.

GED senior secretary Dr Shamsul Alam presented a keynote paper titled ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100: Salient Features’ at the seminar.

Speakers at the seminar stressed the need to construct the Padma barrage and form a Delta Commission to manage the river water.

According to keynote paper, the government needs USD 37.52 billion to implement the Delta Plan. “We've prepared the plan as per the Prime Minister’s directives. The participation of World Bank (WB) and other international development partners are needed for financial assistance,” said Dr Shamsul Alam.

“The future of Bangladesh depends on water management. Addressing this crisis is very urgent as Bangladesh is going to be a middle-income country by 2021. The loss of river water could be disastrous due to climate change,” Anisul Islam Mahmud said.

“Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world. We've to create more awareness about the Delta Plan,” he added.

The minister also said that proper water management is needed for the existence of Bangladesh. “The plan should be prepared considering the present situation of Bangladesh and not according to any European or American strategy,” he observed.

“Bangladesh has to bear the brunt of floods during the rainy season. We also face severe drought in the dry season,” he noted.

“Bangladesh has the capacity to implement the Delta Plan. We're already is constructing the Padma Bridge and a nuclear power plant,” he added.

Mohammad Abdul Mannan, state minister for finance, said the Delta Plan is one of the biggest plans of the country. “The character of the delta of Bangladesh is quite different from those of other countries like the Netherlands. The text of the plan should be made easier so that common people can understand it,” he added.

He also said that the authorities concerned must make the plan in Bangla for better understanding.

“This is long-term plan. It should be implemented considering the country’s present wetland situations,” Prof. M Monowar Hossain, executive director of the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), said.

Freshwater is decreasing fast and a solution to the problem was badly needed, he added.

“The implementation of the Delta Plan would help manage water resources. It would also reduce the risk of earthquakes,” Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, former vice-chancellor of the BUET, said.

Participants at the seminar said that the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 must should take inspiration from the delta planning process used in the Netherlands. It must integrate the delta-related sectors for a long-term, holistic and integrated plan.

BIISS director general Maj. Gen. AKM Abdur Rahman, IWM teacher Prof. Munsur Rahman and Bangladesh Water Development Board director general Mahfuzur Rahman, among others, spoke at the seminar.

Minister seeks help from neighbours

Delta Plan 2100

Water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud has said it is not possible to implement the Delta Plan 2100 without a basin-wise approach with the cooperation of India, Nepal and Bhutan. There is no water in the Teesta river during the dry season. This is a major problem for Bangladesh. We need cooperation from the neighbouring countries to overcome this problem, the minister said yesterday while addressing a seminar. The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic (BIISS) and General Economics Division (GED) of the planning commission jointly organised the seminar titled Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 in the capitals BIISS auditorium. GED senior secretary Dr Shamsul Alam presented a keynote paper titled Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100: Salient Features at the seminar. Speakers at the seminar stressed the need to construct the Padma barrage and form a Delta Commission to manage the river water. According to keynote paper, the government needs USD 37.52 billion to implement the Delta Plan. Weve prepared the plan as per the Prime Ministers directives. The participation of World Bank (WB) and other international development partners are needed for financial assistance, said Dr Shamsul Alam. The future of Bangladesh depends on water management. Addressing this crisis is very urgent as Bangladesh is going to be a middle-income country by 2021. The loss of river water could be disastrous due to climate change, Anisul Islam Mahmud said. Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world. Weve to create more awareness about the Delta Plan, he added. The minister also said that proper water management is needed for the existence of Bangladesh. The plan should be prepared considering the present situation of Bangladesh and not according to any European or American strategy, he observed. Bangladesh has to bear the brunt of floods during the rainy season. We also face severe drought in the dry season, he noted. Bangladesh has the capacity to implement the Delta Plan. Were already is constructing the Padma Bridge and a nuclear power plant, he added. Mohammad Abdul Mannan, state minister for finance, said the Delta Plan is one of the biggest plans of the country. The character of the delta of Bangladesh is quite different from those of other countries like the Netherlands. The text of the plan should be made easier so that common people can understand it, he added. He also said that the authorities concerned must make the plan in Bangla for better understanding. This is long-term plan. It should be implemented considering the countrys present wetland situations, Prof. M Monowar Hossain, executive director of the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), said. Freshwater is decreasing fast and a solution to the problem was badly needed, he added. The implementation of the Delta Plan would help manage water resources. It would also reduce the risk of earthquakes, Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, former vice-chancellor of the BUET, said. Participants at the seminar said that the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 must should take inspiration from the delta planning process used in the Netherlands. It must integrate the delta-related sectors for a long-term, holistic and integrated plan. BIISS director general Maj. Gen. AKM Abdur Rahman, IWM teacher Prof. Munsur Rahman and Bangladesh Water Development Board director general Mahfuzur Rahman, among others, spoke at the seminar.