He said these things to journalists at the Chilmari port area on Saturday (August 8) afternoon after visiting the river erosion-affected areas of Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas in Kurigram.
The state minister said the Teesta is a large project that cannot be implemented in a day. The current government is only five months old, so some time is needed. He assured that work on the pilot project will start very soon.
Regarding river erosion in Kurigram, he said various areas of the district including Chilmari port have been visited. As part of permanent embankment construction and other initiatives to prevent erosion, two projects have been taken up, and their progress will be reviewed quickly and implemented.
The state minister further said the government is working to ensure that people's homes, markets, mosques, temples or educational institutions do not disappear into the river. Following the prime minister's instructions, the situation is being monitored at the field level along with local Members of Parliament and the administration.
He clearly said there would be no partisan consideration in preventing river erosion. The government is beside the erosion-affected people, and emergency work is already underway in about 100 erosion-affected areas of Kurigram. Measures will also be taken wherever more is needed.
Later, the state minister informed that he would visit two ongoing projects funded by the World Bank in Gaibandha.
Those present during the visit included Member of Parliament from Kurigram-4 constituency Mostafizur Rahman, Member of Parliament from Kurigram-3 constituency Barrister Mahbub Salehi, reserved women's seat Member of Parliament Suraiya Zerin Roni, Water Development Board Director General Md. Ruhul Amin, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath, Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan, District BNP convener Mostafizur Rahman, member secretary Sohel Hossnain Kaykobad, joint conveners Hasibur Rahman Hasib and Shafiqul Islam Babu, member Syed Ahmed Babu and other officials.
