Infrastructure development will not be enough to protect people from natural disasters without resolving the existing problems of the coastal areas. The government has taken up projects, worth Tk. 328 crore, to construct embankments and bank protection in six coastal districts. State minister for water resources, Zahid Faruk, said this while addressing a seminar titled ‘Sustainable Coastal Development Opportunities, Challenges & Strategic Planning’ in the city yesterday.

Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Director General KM Anwar Hossain, BWDB Retired Engineers' Association (REA) President Khaleda Shahriar Kabir, and other experts spoke at the seminar. Former Additional Director General of BWDB Habibur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

“It is not possible to make the nation prosperous by 2041 without resolving the existing problems of the coastal region. The coastal people won’t benefit if the infrastructure is not protected from disasters,” Zahid Faruk said.

The state minister said they have already taken up projects in the six coastal districts of Barguna, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira to construct embankments and for bank protection work at a cost of Tk. 328 crore. “People of this region will be benefitted and protected from disasters after the work is completed by 2022. Engineers, staff, and others concerned have to play a vital role to construct the embankments properly so that these last,” he added.

Faruk said experienced retired engineers would help the ministry to implement the projects. “About 80 per cent work of the Delta plan is under the water resources ministry. More projects will be taken up, though some have already been taken up with the help of foreign development partners,” he added.

Huge funds will be needed for the centenary Delta plan project, the state minister said. They are discussing funding with development partners to implement the project, he added.

“Prevention of river erosion is a challenging task for BWDB. The Teesta and Gorai rivers are eroding even in this dry season due to climate change,” KM Anwar Hossain said.

BWDB is repairing 17 affected polders in coastal areas under the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP), the water board chief said, adding that changes have been made in the   structure for the water law. The experts discussed issues like river erosion, impact of cyclone, loss of people’s property during disasters, existing problems, and possible solutions. The speakers suggested that the government should construct structures in the coastal areas after exchanging views with retired engineers who have experience regarding coastal belts and disasters.