MP ‘stalls’ PM’s priority river dredging project

The dredging of the Old Brahmaputra River, which is part of the Prime Minister’s priority projects, has been stalled in Pakundia area of Kishoreganj for over a month following alleged interference from the local MP.
The dredging of the rivers Shitalakhya, Banar and Old Brahmaputra was initiated to expand the Demra–Ghorashal–Polash–Tok–Katiadi riverine route under the “12 important waterways dredging project”.
But it won’t be possible to complete the project in time, as Pakundia lawmaker Sohrab Uddin has allegedly ordered the dredger staffs at Sultanpur in Kapasia Police Station area not to dump earth spoils on the other side of the river except in Katiadi, without his permission.
During a visit to Sultanpur on Friday, The Independent found that despite the completion of dykes for dumping dredge spoils, the dredger staff have been waiting for over a month to do so pending the MP’s green signal.
The members of the staff claimed that they were incurring a daily loss of Tk 1.50 lakh for keeping the dredger idle.
It was also alleged that local Awami leaders Helal, Shafiq, Farid, Hakim and Enamul were monitoring the dredging work on Sohrab’s behalf.
The MP, however, denied the allegation and claimed he was helping the authorities concerned in dumping the dredge spoil.
“They are not involved with any dredging work. I myself visited many places to manage the dredge spoil,” the MP told The Independent yesterday. “Since the river lies in my constituency, the dredge spoil should be dumped as per the demand of the people of Pakundia. 

Why should it be dumped on the other side,” he said.
Countering the claim, Abul Hashem, member of No. 3 Tok union parishad, said, “The Old Brahmaputra River also flows through Tok. But the MP is loath to share the dredge spoils with us.”
Sohrab alleged that his rivals and a syndicate involved in illegal trading of dredged earth spoils were spreading canards against him. “Some of the dredger staffs are also involved with this syndicate,” he added.
“I personally sent Pakundia police to Ghosherkandi in Kapasia police station area to monitor the dumping of dredged spoils,” he said.
Confirming the development, Ashraf Uddin, the cashier of Abu Horaira Madrasa at Kapsia, confided: “Pakundia police station OC Shamsuddin came to our madrasa twice and demanded to complete the dredging work by Saturday. Otherwise, he threatened to take away the dredging equipment.”
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken up the project at a cost of Tk 21 crore.
“We have already removed about 8.5 lakh cubic metres of silt out of a total 13.5 lakh cubic metres from the 18-km-long Tok–Katiadi river route so far,” Mohammad Tariqul Hasan, BIWTA executive engineer and project director, told The Independent.
Huge quantities of silt at different points on the riverine route, such as Trimukh, Patlashi, Shohagpur, Bakultala and Ulusara, have been removed, he added. Hasan said, “Now the depth of the water stands at four to five feet during the dry season. But it would increase to 10 feet after completion of the dredging work by June. The width of the channel will also increase to 120 feet (37 metres),” he said.
Riverine communication will improve between Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Polash and Ghorashal, as the dredging work will allow a smooth sailing of vessels, he observed.
Besides, passenger and goods-laden vessels can be easily loaded or unloaded and berthed round the year after completion of the work, the BIWTA official said.
Farmers could irrigate their fields using river waters and fishermen will able to catch fish from this river again, he added.
Besides, the government would also be able to earn more revenue through this water route.

MP stalls PMs priority river dredging project

The dredging of the Old Brahmaputra River, which is part of the Prime Ministers priority projects, has been stalled in Pakundia area of Kishoreganj for over a month following alleged interference from the local MP. The dredging of the rivers Shitalakhya, Banar and Old Brahmaputra was initiated to expand the DemraGhorashalPolashTokKatiadi riverine route under the 12 important waterways dredging project. But it wont be possible to complete the project in time, as Pakundia lawmaker Sohrab Uddin has allegedly ordered the dredger staffs at Sultanpur in Kapasia Police Station area not to dump earth spoils on the other sideof the river except in Katiadi, withouthis permission. During a visit to Sultanpur on Friday, The Independent found that despite the completion of dykes for dumping dredge spoils, the dredger staff have been waiting for over a month to do so pending the MPs green signal. The members of the staff claimed that they were incurring a daily loss of Tk 1.50 lakh for keeping the dredger idle. It was also alleged that local Awami leaders Helal, Shafiq, Farid, Hakim and Enamul were monitoring the dredging work on Sohrabs behalf. The MP, however, denied the allegation and claimed he was helping the authorities concerned in dumping the dredge spoil. They are not involved with any dredging work. I myself visited many places to manage the dredge spoil, the MP told The Independent yesterday. Since the river lies in my constituency, the dredge spoil should be dumped as per the demand of the peopleof Pakundia. Why should it be dumped on the other side, he said. Countering the claim, Abul Hashem, member of No. 3 Tok union parishad, said, The Old Brahmaputra River also flows through Tok. But the MP is loath to share the dredge spoils with us. Sohrab alleged that his rivals and a syndicate involved in illegal trading of dredged earth spoils were spreading canards against him. Some of the dredger staffs are also involved with this syndicate, he added. I personally sent Pakundia police to Ghosherkandi in Kapasia police station area to monitor the dumping of dredged spoils, he said. Confirming the development, Ashraf Uddin, the cashier of Abu Horaira Madrasa at Kapsia, confided: Pakundia police station OC Shamsuddin came to our madrasa twice and demanded to complete the dredging work by Saturday. Otherwise, he threatened to take away the dredging equipment. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken up the project at a cost of Tk 21 crore. We have already removed about 8.5 lakh cubic metres of silt out of a total 13.5 lakh cubic metres from the 18-km-long TokKatiadi river route so far, Mohammad Tariqul Hasan, BIWTA executive engineer and project director, told The Independent. Huge quantities of silt at different points on the riverine route, such as Trimukh, Patlashi, Shohagpur, Bakultala and Ulusara, have been removed, he added. Hasan said, Now the depth of the water stands at four to five feet during the dry season. But it would increase to 10 feet after completion of the dredging work by June. The width of the channel will also increase to 120 feet (37 metres), he said. Riverine communication will improve between Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Polash and Ghorashal, as the dredging work will allow a smooth sailing of vessels, he observed. Besides, passenger and goods-laden vessels can be easily loaded or unloaded and berthed round the year after completion of the work, the BIWTA official said. Farmers could irrigate their fields using river waters and fishermen will able to catch fish from this river again, he added. Besides, the government would also be able to earn more revenue through this water route.