Padma Barrage Project Work Set to Begin Early Next Year, Says Minister
Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie visited proposed sites for the Padma Barrage project in Kushtia and Rajbari on September 11, 2026. The major initiative, aimed at benefiting 24 districts, has received an initial approval of approximately Tk 35,000 crore.
On September 11, 2026, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie traveled to Kushtia and Rajbari to inspect the proposed sites for the highly anticipated Padma Barrage project. The high-profile visit marked a significant step forward for the infrastructure initiative, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Water Resources and the Water Development Board. The Minister was joined by several prominent figures, local leaders, and officials, reflecting the national importance attached to the undertaking by the government and the ruling BNP.
During his visit and subsequent briefings regarding the initiative, Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie provided detailed insights into the financial scope and logistical timeline of the development. He officially confirmed that approximately 35,000 crore taka has already been approved for the first phase of the massive undertaking. Furthermore, the authorities have formulated plans for a second phase involving an additional project scope estimated between 15,000 to 17,000 crore taka, while the entire construction and implementation timeline for the primary phase is projected to take seven years to complete.
Highlighting the critical necessity of the infrastructure, Minister Annie elaborated on the severe environmental and seasonal challenges faced by the region. He explained that this specific part of the country suffers extensive devastation from river erosion and severe flooding during the monsoon season. Conversely, during the dry season, the intrusion of increased salinity negatively impacts the local ecosystem and damages the biodiversity of the coastal areas. Taking all these multifaceted factors into rigorous consideration, the administration is actively moving forward with the execution of the barrage project to safeguard the region.
The Minister formally emphasized the broad geographic reach of the engineering undertaking, noting that at least 24 districts across the country will ultimately derive substantial benefits from its successful completion. In addition to the barrage itself, the broader regional water management strategy encompasses a massive canal excavation program spanning 20,000 kilometers. These interconnected water resource developments are designed to comprehensively alleviate seasonal vulnerabilities and improve water flow management for millions of citizens residing within the affected river basin zones.
Tracing the political origins of the initiative, Minister Annie stated that the Padma Barrage project was a core electoral commitment made by the BNP. Following the formation of the government, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) officially granted approval to the project under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Minister expressed strong optimism that, provided all conditions remain favorable, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will personally visit the site to formally inaugurate the construction work between January, February, or March of the upcoming year, 2027.
