Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud yesterday criticised Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for not strengthening its capacity to address the country’s water problem, reports UNB. “Unfortunately, capacity building of the Water Development Board couldn’t be ensured,” he told a seminar. BWDB organised the dissemination seminar on the final report of ‘Feasibility Study of Capital Dredging and Sustainable River Management in Bangladesh’ at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
The minister stressed the need for establishing good governance and recruiting skilled manpower to the board for building capacity to address the country’s growing water challenges. He urged BWDB to take necessary steps to build its capacity aiming to implement the plans and water projects the government has already taken.
State Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Nazrul Islam, and Water Resources secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, among others, spoke at the seminar.
Speaking as the chief guest, Anisul Islam said the country loses about 5,000-6,000 hectares of land each year due to riverbank erosion displacing 50,000 people.