Kishoreganj, Sept 18 (V7N) – A Tk 385 crore project has been undertaken to construct a 24-kilometre embankment (Beri Badh) and road from Ferry Ghat to Mendipur to protect Bhairab town and surrounding areas from Meghna River erosion, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam said today.
He came up with the development while speaking to journalists after inspecting the Meghna River in the Kalipur area of Bhairab this afternoon.
"Several unions of the upazila, including Bhairab town, are being affected by erosion of the Meghna River. Based on the long-standing demand of the people and an election pledge, a project has been undertaken to construct a 24-kilometre embankment and road from Ferry Ghat to Mendipur," he said.
The state minister said the initial estimated cost of the project is around **Tk 385 crore**, adding that its scope will be expanded in phases. He said the project would not only help prevent river erosion but also improve local communication, as the road on the embankment will facilitate movement of people and transportation of goods. He said necessary bridges would be constructed to ensure that the embankment does not obstruct the natural flow of water through canals and wetlands.
Earlier, the state minister distributed sports equipment at Bhairab Football Academy and inaugurated sanitation, road and drainage improvement works at the Harijan community in Chandani Tila. Later, sports equipment was distributed among educational institutions, players and sports organisers.
River erosion is a recurring problem in Bangladesh, particularly along the Meghna, Padma, and Jamuna rivers. Bhairab, a town in Kishoreganj district, has been particularly vulnerable to erosion, with several unions of the upazila affected in recent years. The embankment project is expected to provide long-term protection to the town and surrounding areas, while also improving connectivity and supporting economic activities in the region. The government has been implementing various river erosion control and embankment construction projects across the country to protect vulnerable communities and infrastructure.
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