Govt moves to build Padma barrage under PPP, proposal sent to Planning Commission

The government has taken an initiative to construct a barrage on the Padma River under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with the project proposal already sent to the Planning Commission for approval, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said today (6 April).

He made the remarks in parliament while responding to a question from Pabna-5 MP Md Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas.

The minister said the proposed Padma Barrage Project is expected to directly benefit 120 upazilas across 19 districts in the country's southwest and northwest regions. Additionally, five more districts are likely to benefit indirectly.

"We consider this a mastermind project due to its wide-ranging impact," he said.

Highlighting its significance, the minister said the project would play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods, agriculture, fisheries, environment and overall sustainability in the southwest region, with the Padma River at the centre of this system.

He noted that the feasibility study for constructing a barrage on the river began in 2004 and was completed in 2013, recommending the project's implementation.

The initiative has also been prioritised in the government's election manifesto.

The estimated cost of the project is Tk34,497.25 crore, with an implementation timeline from 2026 to 2033, the minister said.

Once completed, the project is expected to bring 2.88 million hectares of land under irrigation.

It is also projected to generate 113 megawatts of hydropower and create employment for around 9,27,000 people, he added.