Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Wednesday said the construction of Ganga barrage is important to save the one third of Bangladesh population living in the Ganga basin.
"It would not be possible to save one third of our people living in the Ganga basin without the construction of Ganga barrage," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a dialogue titled, "The free flow of rivers: people's perspectives" at Shishu Academy organized by Action Aid. "The barrage will also minimize trouble in sharing of the waters of joint rivers in the future," he added.
Action Aid country Director Farah Kabir moderated the programme while Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Prof Dr Shahjahan Mondal, Engineer M Inamul Haque also spoke among others.
The Minister said, "Pirates are destroying the river environment too, so the law enforcers have to be more careful to stop them (pirates)." Expressing the optimism of the government about signing the much-expected Teesta river water sharing agreement he said, "The former Indian Prime Minister agreed to the treaty and the government is trying to resolve the matter (and) Bangladesh believes India will fulfil the commitment."    ? BSS