Bangladesh Water Development Board proposes 1.36 billion taka project to mitigate flooding in Banshkhali
Photo Collected
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has proposed a 1.36 billion BDT project to overhaul water management infrastructure in Banshkhali, Chittagong, following devastating floods that submerged 60 percent of the region in July. The initiative aims to enhance drainage capacity and mitigate future risks from flash floods and tidal surges.
The proposal, drafted by the BWDB’s Chittagong Division-2, is scheduled for submission to the Ministry of Water Resources next week for formal approval. The comprehensive project includes the re-excavation of over 90 kilometers of canals, the reconstruction or replacement of 25 sluice gates, and the repair of approximately 76 kilometers of internal embankments.
Banshkhali’s vulnerability to natural disasters—including cyclones, tidal surges, and heavy monsoon rains—has intensified in recent years. During the July flooding, heavy rainfall and upstream mountainous runoff damaged over 4,500 homes. Between July 5 and 12, Chittagong recorded 1,169 millimeters of rainfall, contributing to widespread destruction across the region and resulting in 41 fatalities in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar.
Tanzir Saif Ahmed, BWDB’s Executive Engineer in Chittagong, stated that the current sluice gates are undersized, which significantly delayed the recession of floodwaters during the recent disaster. The new project intends to replace non-functional gates, clear critical drainage arteries like the Jalakadar Canal, and reinforce embankments to prevent a recurrence of the July crisis. Currently, of the 70 existing sluice gates and regulators in Banshkhali, only 46 are fully operational, while 11 are completely broken.
Budgetary allocations for the proposal include approximately 499.26 million BDT for sluice gate works, 98.86 million BDT for re-excavating 20 kilometers of the Jalakadar Canal, and 56.32 million BDT for dredging an additional 70.7 kilometers of branch canals, including the Chhanua and Gobinda canals.
Furthermore, the plan allocates 64.70 million BDT for repairing internal embankments in Baharchhara, Katharia, Saral, Chambal, and Gondamara unions. Significant investments are also earmarked for coastal protection: 474.53 million BDT to secure nearly 6 kilometers of coastal embankments and 162.61 million BDT to protect riverbanks in Pukuria, Sadhanpur, and Khankhanabad.
Dr. Ainun Nishat, an Emeritus Professor at BRAC University and a specialist in water resources, emphasized that existing coastal embankments were primarily designed to block seawater, often neglecting the necessity for efficient internal rainwater drainage. He noted that the BWDB must re-evaluate its infrastructure designs and ensure greater accountability in project execution, suggesting that independent oversight may be necessary to ensure long-term effectiveness.
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