Rajbari, Sept 11 (V7N) – Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today said construction of the Padma Barrage will begin next year, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman scheduled to inaugurate the work between January and March 2027.

The minister made the announcement while visiting the proposed site of the Padma Barrage at Pangsha Upazila of Rajbari district.

The Padma Barrage will transform the economy of 24 southwestern districts, bringing major changes in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, the minister said. Two hydroelectric power plants of 113 megawatts each will be built under the project. The technical survey of the project was started in 2004 while Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister, and necessary manpower has been recruited to begin activities.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the present government has approved the project at a cost of Taka 34,497 crore. The 2.1-kilometre long Padma Barrage will be implemented with government funding over the next seven years.

  • 78 spillway gates

  • 18 under-sluice gates

  • One navigation lock

  • Two fish passes

  • A railway bridge will also be constructed over the barrage

In the afternoon, the minister inspected the Padma-Gorai confluence at Haripur-Saldah in Kushtia Sadar Upazila, where he told journalists that the Padma Barrage will help control river erosion during the monsoon season and resolve water scarcity during the lean period. The project will also help protect the ecosystem of the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom, and Member of Parliament for Rajbari-2 constituency Harun-or-Rashid were present during the visit.

The Padma Barrage project has been a long-standing priority for the southwestern region of Bangladesh, which suffers from water scarcity during the dry season and excessive salinity. The barrage is expected to regulate the flow of the Padma River, one of the country's major rivers, and provide irrigation water to millions of farmers. The project has been under discussion for decades, with feasibility studies conducted at various stages. The current government's approval and funding commitment mark a significant step forward for the long-delayed project.

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