FENI, Sept 22, 2024 (BSS)- Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the government would take initiative for planned construction of embankments at strategic locations to prevent flood.

In addition, she said, the government is sincerely working for repairing the embankments and water regulators which were damaged in recent flood.

The adviser said this while talking to reporters after inspecting the flood regulating structures in Sonagazi Upazila of Feni district today.

Adviser Rizwana, also in charge of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, said, fresh planning and surveys are underway to prevent collapse of embankments during flood in future.

Water Resources Ministry and other agencies are taking quick action to this end.

The water resources adviser pointed out that illegal and unabated extraction of sands is contributing to the damage of embankments. 

To protect the embankments, she said, illegal lease of sand piles would be revoked, and sand extraction from those areas would be stopped. 

She said action would also be taken against illegal encroachments of rivers, she said calling all to work together to protect the national assets.

Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Deputy Commissioner of Feni, Superintendent of Police, senior ministry officials, were present.

Earlier in the day, the adviser visited the damaged embankments in the bordering Nij Kalikapur and Ballamukha in Parshuram Upazila of Feni district. 

During the visit, she mentioned that they would request India to provide timely flood data.

She also visited the family of Shaheed Ekram Hossain Kawsar, a victim of recent anti-discrimination protests, at their home in Paglir Kul village in Parshuram Upazila, and expressed her condolence and support to the family.