After more than six decades of studies and feasibility assessments, the government has finally taken steps to move forward with the long-awaited Padma Barrage project.
The proposal was reviewed last Thursday by the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) of the Planning Commission, chaired by Mostafizur Rahman, Member responsible for the Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Institutions Division.
According to officials from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the project was initially estimated at Tk 50,443.64 crore. The PEC has recommended executing it in two phases, with the first phase costing Tk 34,608 crore, scheduled for completion between March 2026 and June 2033. A senior BWDB official, speaking anonymously, told The Business Standard that the revised plan may be submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval on January 25. The interim government intends to fund the project domestically, while foreign financing—particularly from China—may be considered later.
Based on a detailed feasibility study, Pangsha in Rajbari district has been identified as the optimal location for the 2.1-kilometre-long barrage, which will improve river flow control, water diversion, and downstream distribution. The project has become increasingly necessary due to reduced water flow in the Padma River following the operation of India’s Farakka Barrage upstream.
