Published: 12:48 AM, 05 August 2026
National dialogue highlights Padma Barrage’s role in climate, food security
Policymakers, academics and experts have described the Padma Barrage Project as a vital national initiative for ensuring Bangladesh’s water security, boosting agricultural production, strengthening food security, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing the growing salinity intrusion in the country’s southwestern region. They stressed that long-term water management requires evidence-based planning, effective policymaking and coordinated action.
These observations were made at a roundtable discussion titled “Padma Barrage: Prospects and Challenges”, held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday afternoon. The event was organized by the Institute for Global Co-operation Foundation (IGCF).
The dialogue brought together policymakers, economists, engineers, academics, media professionals and development experts to exchange views on the project’s potential economic, social, environmental and climate impacts, as well as its implications for water resource management, agricultural productivity, food security and sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Chief Adviser on Finance and Planning, said, “Bangladesh’s fundamental challenge is ‘too much water or too little water.’ The landmark achievement in this regard was the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty signed in 1977. Although several plans were taken afterwards, many were never implemented effectively.
Under the direction of the Prime Minister and in response to public aspirations, the design of the Padma Barrage has been revised. Once completed, the project is expected to contribute an additional 0.5 to 1.0 percentage point to the country’s GDP growth.”
Dr. Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, “The Padma Barrage was one of the flagship mega projects included in our election manifesto, and we are committed to moving forward with its implementation without delay. In doing so, we will follow the principle of ‘Bangladesh First.’ We will not accept undue interference or external oversight from any other country. The government will take every necessary step to address the country’s water challenges and disaster risks for the benefit of our people.”
Major General (Retd.) Fazle Elahi Akbar, Chairman of the Foundation for Strategic and Development Studies (FSDS), observed, “China’s mega project on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River, launched in 2025 and scheduled for completion by 2030 with a planned generation capacity of 65,000 megawatts, could have significant implications for regional water security and geopolitics. At the same time, ensuring cost control and efficient implementation of the Padma Barrage project, estimated at Tk 34,497 crore, will be equally important.” The session was moderated by Professor Dr. Bulbul Siddiqi of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at North South University.
He noted, “The idea of constructing the Padma Barrage dates back to the 1960s, considering the needs of four divisions, 19 districts and nearly 70 million people. The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India and the Padma Barrage are closely interconnected. One of our major challenges is our inability to conserve sufficient water during the dry season. Although the Padma carries water, many of its distributary rivers fail to receive adequate flow. The objective of this dialogue is to support evidence-based policymaking and contribute to improving outdated infrastructure and addressing design shortcomings.”
Mahmudur Rahman Shawon, Chairman of IGCF, said, “Today’s discussion aims to bring together the knowledge, experience and critical insights of experts from diverse fields to identify not only the project’s immense potential but also its technical, environmental, economic, social and diplomatic risks. On May 13, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the first phase of the Padma Barrage project at a cost of Tk 34,497 crore, to be financed entirely from domestic resources. The Padma Barrage is not merely a major infrastructure project; it is closely linked to water security, agriculture, food production, river flow, sediment management, the Sundarbans, biodiversity, regional water diplomacy and substantial public investment.”
Participants emphasized the need for long-term planning to ensure the efficient use of the country’s water resources, conserve water during the dry season, restore the flow of rivers and distributaries, increase agricultural productivity, control salinity, and strengthen resilience against climate change. They underscored the importance of scientific and evidence-based assessments in evaluating both the opportunities and challenges associated with the Padma Barrage Project.
Among others present at the roundtable were Ayub Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the National Press Club; Professor Dr. Nurul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka Central University; National Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah; Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University; Professor Dr. Md. Sirajul Islam of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at North South University; Assistant Professor Dr. Md. Javed Hossain of the Department of Economics; Iftekhar Mahmud, Editor of Dhaka Stream; Asif Bin Ali, Doctoral Fellow at Georgia State University and geopolitical analyst; Subail Bin Alam, COO of RANCON Infrastructure & Engineering Limited; and many other distinguished guests.
The discussion concluded with a consensus that continued policy dialogues of this nature are essential to ensuring Bangladesh’s long-term water security, agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability and overall sustainable development.
