PM opens Tk1,542cr flood control, drainage, irrigation project in Feni

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (1 October) inaugurated the Tk1,542.16-crore Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project rehabilitation (Phase I) at Feni, aiming to strengthen flood protection, drainage and irrigation facilities in the district.

The prime minister inaugurated the project at around 2.17 pm today (1 October) at the Kheyaghat Ghat-Muhuri Bridge area in Parshuram upazila and later exchanged greetings with local people at the venue.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on 16 June at an estimated cost of Tk1,542.16 crore.

Under the project, 67.92 kilometres of flood-control embankments will be rehabilitated, 11.73 kilometres of riverbanks protected and 83.50 kilometres of rivers and water bodies re-excavated.

Besides, 27 irrigation structures will be rehabilitated and 77 inlets will be constructed under the project, which is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

In its next phase, there are plans to construct new embankments along the Muhuri and Kohua rivers and undertake embankment construction, excavation and rehabilitation works along the Silonia River.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister and Feni-3 Lawmaker Abdul Awal Mintoo, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, Feni-1 Lawmaker Rafiqul Alam Maznu, Feni-2 lawmaker Joynal Abedin, and lawmaker Rehana Akter Ranu, among others, were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the prime minister arrived in Feni at around 1:15 pm on his daylong tour to attend a series of programmes.

After inaugurating the Muhuri-Kohua project in Parshuram, he is scheduled to travel to Fulgazi, where he will join a tree-planting programme at Begum Khaleda Zia Women's College.

He will later visit the Fulgazi District Council Dak Bungalow, where he will inaugurate the supply of electricity to the national grid from the rooftop solar power system installed at the facility.

The prime minister will then rest and offer prayers at the Dak Bungalow. Later in the afternoon, he will attend a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground, where he will distribute Family Cards and Farmer Cards and provide honorariums to mosque imams, muezzins, khadims and priests.

He is also scheduled to address a public gathering at the venue before returning to Dhaka in the evening.

Under a government initiative, solar systems with a combined capacity of 962.5 kilowatts have been installed on government buildings in Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya upazilas, including 415 kilowatts in Chhagalnaiya, 298 kilowatts in Parshuram and 249 kilowatts in Fulgazi.

A total of 510 people in Fulgazi are set to receive Family Cards, while 7,643 people across the Feni district will receive Farmer Cards.

Honorariums will also be provided to 238 imams, muezzins, khadims and priests in Fulgazi.

Tarique Rahman's maternal grandfather Easkandar Majumder's ancestral home is in Sreepur village of Fulgazi upazila in Feni.

Feni-1 constituency also has a longstanding association with his mother, former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who was elected from the constituency several times since 1991.