Rajbari, Sep 11 (V7N)- Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the Padma Barrage project between January and March next year.

He made the statement on Friday (September 11) after inspecting the proposed Padma Barrage site at Habaspur in Pangsha, Rajbari.

The minister said implementation of the Padma Barrage would bring major changes to agriculture, fisheries and power generation while contributing to economic transformation in 24 districts. He noted that the project's technical study was initially launched in 2004 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's government.

Annie said construction work on the Padma Barrage has officially begun. The seven-year project will be implemented under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman using entirely domestic funding, with the project cost estimated at around Tk 35,000 crore.

He said field-level technical surveys are currently underway, with officials conducting on-site inspections to advance the project.

The minister also said a special initiative has been undertaken, following the rural development philosophy of late President Ziaur Rahman, to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country. The program aims to boost agriculture and help make Bangladesh more self-reliant and prosperous.

Adviser for Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, Rajbari-2 MP Harun-or-Rashid, project officials and local leaders were present during the inspection.

The Padma Barrage project was approved at an ECNEC meeting on May 13 this year. According to the approved proposal, the project has an estimated cost of Tk 33,474.45 crore and is scheduled to be implemented from July 2026 to June 2033.

The project aims to conserve and regulate Padma River water during the dry season and restore freshwater flow. The proposed barrage will be 2.1 kilometers long and include 78 spillway gates, 18 under-sluice gates, a navigation lock and two fish passes.

A railway bridge will also be constructed over the barrage, while the project includes provisions for generating approximately 113 megawatts of hydroelectric power.

Officials said the project is expected to benefit people across 26 districts, including Rajbari, once it is completed.

END/SMA/AJ