Published: 10:16 AM, 09 July 2026
Imminent Project to construct Karatoa river bank lessens tailback in Bogura
A system development project at Tk. 1100 crore has iniaitated by the present government to construct western bank of Karatoa river to lessesn the random tailback in Bogura town. On the last June 16 this year, ECNEC with the dynamic leadership of Tarique Rahman, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has approved a 5-year long project at Tk. 1094 crore and 35 lakh and the motto of the project to create the flow, protecting the capture and pollution of the Karatoa, Gazaria and Isamoti River. Due to the short-cut of the primary budget of the project, the bank construction will be delayed.
Water Development Board source said that the board proposed a project proposal at Tk. 2665 crore in 2018 to recover the three rivers and to restore their normal flows and later the proposal was proposed at Tk. 2400 crore after the revision of the project proposal but the then government did not approve the project.
The Karatoa excavation near Deputy Commissioner's office for protecting the western bank of the river, construction of walkway, and its beautification at Tk. 47 crore was finished in 2024 during the tenure of interim government but the ECNEC has deducted the construction of the both banks and approved at Tk. 1094 crore and 35 lakh, added the board source.
The source also added that the re-excavation of 230 km area of Karatoa,Gazaria and Isamoti river will extend irrigation system of 22.72 hectares of land under Bogura and Gaibandha district will be benefitted, the pollution will b removed from the areas, protected flood erosion and save household areas, houses, crops land, preserve the climate change etc.
Ziaur Rahman, member of Bogura district River Protection Committee said that due to the shortage of the flow of the rivers, the land grabbers grabbed the river land for personal use and construction.
The river protection commission tried to restore the grabbed land from the hands of the greedy people but yet to restore total grabbed land, added Ziaur Rahman.
Shahabuddin Soikot, President of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) said that after 80's, the river bed was seizure due to Swiss gate in the uppur area at Gobindagonj in Gaibandha district and due to discharge of pollutants of the town turns the river as drain.
Contacted, Mahmud Hasan, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board of Bogura said that the appointment of Project Director (PD) and tender activities regarding the project will be done by the higher authority and the Swiss gate will be removed to restore the flow of the river.
Rezaul Karim Badsha, Member of Parliament of Bogura sadar constituency said that the government has planned to construct by-pass road on the western bank of Karatoa river in Bogura town to ensure smooth movement of the people.
>>Bogura Correspondent
