Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan talking to the journalist visiting Shyamasundari Canal in Rangpur city. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, July 15, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that an initiative has been taken to dredge 10 kilometers of Shyamasundari Canal in Rangpur city to restore and increase water flow.
 
"Along with dredging of the canal flowing through the heart of Rangpur metropolis, 68 points will be used to filter the sewage entering this channel. These points will also be used to restore water flow to resolve the decades-old problem of the city dwellers," she said.
 
Syeda Rizwana Hasan was talking to journalists while visiting Shyamasundari Canal of Rangpur city on Tuesday afternoon. 
 
The Adviser said that she already inspected Shyamasundari Canal twice. There are two major obstacles or barriers in Shyamasundari Canal. The rationale behind why those two barriers were built will be sought. For this, talks have been held with the army. 
 
"The district administration, the Water Development Board (WDB) and the army will jointly clear the barriers and start work in the dry season," she said.
 
Along with this, the waste that enters the Shyamasundari Canal through 68 points will have to be taken somewhere or the other. Whether this waste can be treated at a low cost or not will be seen. 
 
Regarding the Teesta River, the adviser said that earlier, people across the river were talking about the need to start flood and erosion prevention work along its course of more than 45 kilometers.
 
Accordingly, the work has been started after releasing money from the Ministry of Finance in just two months. 
 
"Already, 19.5 kilometers of work has been done. The remaining work will be done in the upcoming dry season," she said. 
 
Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "This time, I came and saw smiles on the faces of the riverside people when I visited the Teesta River. This time, no one's land was eroded."
 
She said that everyone's expectation or demand is to build permanent flood control embankments. 
 
"But we don't have adequate resources to construct permanent embankments. Rangpur's demand is for a permanent embankment, people of Shariatpur, Faridpur, Feni districts also demand the same. But it is not possible to do it in such a short time," she said.
 
She said, "We do not have time to plan and implement the development of the entire northern region or a region. This is fine for a five-year term government. Still, we are working on a hospital and the Teesta River in Rangpur."
 
"The Teesta is the lifeblood of Rangpur region's people. We are working to achieve our rights as a downstream country. Until there is a permanent solution, we are working so that this downstream country does not have problems," she said. 
 
The Adviser also said, "We have talked to the Chinese government about repeated floods and river erosion and repeated lack of irrigation water. The plan for the Teesta River that was in the cupboard has been brought out".
 
She said, "Chinese representatives have already visited five places alongside the Teesta River. We have revised the plan that has been pending for a long time and sent it to the Chinese commission."
 
"The Chinese commission is supposed to send it to us within this week. If they send it, if the government ministry approves it, we will be able to finalize the plan once the Chinese government designs it," she added. 
 
WDB Director General Engineer Md Enayet Ullah, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Mobashsherul Islam, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Islam, Chief Engineer of WDB's Rangpur Zone Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman and other officials were present at that time.