Bangladesh Teesta Master Plan: Pilot Project to Begin Soon, Says State Minister Azad

Kurigram, August 8, 2026 — State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad announced on Saturday that a pilot project under the Teesta Master Plan will be launched "within a short time" — providing the clearest timeline yet for the government's long-awaited initiative to tame one of Bangladesh's most volatile rivers and unlock the agricultural and economic potential of the northern region.

🌏 The Teesta Challenge

The Teesta is one of Bangladesh's most important — and most problematic — rivers. Originating in the Himalayas and flowing through India before entering Bangladesh's northern districts (Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha), the Teesta provides irrigation water to millions of farmers during the dry season. But the river is also notoriously volatile — shifting course, flooding during the monsoon, and eroding riverbanks that destroy homes, farmland, and infrastructure.

The Teesta Master Plan aims to address these challenges comprehensively through dredging, embankment construction, irrigation infrastructure, and river training works. However, the project has been delayed for years by funding constraints, India-Bangladesh water-sharing disputes, and political transitions. The current government, which took office approximately five months ago, appears determined to move the project forward.

💬 "Give Us Some Time"

"The Teesta is a major project. It is not possible to implement such a large project in a single day," Azad told journalists at the Chilmari river port area on Saturday, as reported by BSS. "Our government is only five months old. Give us some time. We will begin work on the Teesta Master Plan as a pilot project within a short time."

The state minister said the technical committee has been working on the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan, and consultations are being held with experts from different countries — suggesting that the government is seeking international technical expertise to design and execute what would be one of the largest water management projects in Bangladesh's history.

🛡️ River Erosion: 100 Emergency Sites in Kurigram

Earlier, the state minister visited several river erosion-hit areas at Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas of Kurigram district. He said two projects have already been undertaken to construct permanent embankments and prevent river erosion in the district, with the government reviewing their progress and taking steps to ensure speedy implementation.

"The government has taken necessary measures so that the people do not lose their homes, markets, mosques, temples or educational institutions to river erosion," Azad said. Emergency work is currently underway in approximately 100 erosion-prone areas of Kurigram, with instructions to be issued for prompt intervention wherever further measures are required.

• 🛣️ Erosion areas inspected: Chilmari, Ulipur, Roumari, Rajibpur
• 🛡️ Emergency work sites: ~100 in Kurigram district
• 📜 Permanent embankment projects: 2 already underway
• 👥 Next inspection: Gaibandha (2 World Bank-funded projects)

🏛️ Political Unity on Erosion Prevention

Assuring that there would be no political discrimination in measures to prevent river erosion, Azad said the government stands beside all affected people regardless of political affiliation. "Following the prime minister's instructions, we are conducting field-level visits together with local members of parliament and relevant officials to determine how quickly the projects can be implemented," he added.

The programme was attended by lawmakers from Kurigram-4 constituency Mostafizur Rahman, Kurigram-3 constituency Barrister Mahbub Salehi, reserved seat women lawmaker Suraiya Jerin Roni, Bangladesh Water Development Board Director General Md Ruhul Amin, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath, and Kurigram Water Development Board Executive Engineer Rakibul Hasan.

🌾 Why the Teesta Matters for Agriculture and Trade

The Teesta basin is one of Bangladesh's most productive agricultural regions — producing rice, maize, vegetables, and tobacco that feed both domestic markets and export supply chains. During the dry season (November to April), the river's irrigation water is critical for crop survival, but water flow drops dramatically as India diverts water upstream through the Gozaldoba barrage. The long-pending Teesta Water Sharing Treaty between India and Bangladesh — stalled for over a decade — would establish an equitable sharing arrangement, but the Master Plan takes a different approach: it focuses on what Bangladesh can do unilaterally to manage the river within its own territory.

The Teesta Master Plan, if implemented effectively, would:

• 🌾 Secure irrigation water for millions of farmers in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, and Gaibandha
• 🛡️ Prevent river erosion that destroys homes and farmland every monsoon season
• 💰 Boost agricultural exports by stabilising crop production in the northern region
• 🚢 Improve navigability for inland water transport on the Teesta
• 📊 Create employment through dredging, construction, and maintenance work

🌏 International Consultations and Technical Expertise

The state minister's mention of consultations with "experts from different countries" suggests that the government is seeking international technical assistance for the Master Plan — potentially from countries with experience in large-scale river management, such as the Netherlands (known for its water engineering expertise), China (which has built massive river training works on the Yangtze and Yellow rivers), or Japan (which has extensive experience with flood control and river management).

International technical expertise would be particularly valuable for the Teesta because of the river's unique challenges: high sediment load from Himalayan erosion, seasonal flow variability, and the geopolitical dimension of the India-Bangladesh water-sharing issue. A pilot project — as announced by the minister — would allow the government to test engineering approaches on a smaller scale before committing to the full Master Plan.

📈 World Bank-Funded Projects in Gaibandha

After his programme in Kurigram, the state minister said he would travel to Gaibandha to inspect two ongoing projects funded by the World Bank. World Bank funding for water management projects in Bangladesh has been significant — the bank has financed multiple riverbank protection, flood management, and irrigation projects across the country. The Gaibandha inspection suggests that the government is also leveraging multilateral financing to complement its domestic resources for water infrastructure.

✅ What Comes Next

The immediate next step will be the launch of the Teesta Master Plan pilot project, which the minister said would happen "within a short time." The pilot will likely focus on a specific stretch of the river — testing dredging techniques, embankment designs, and irrigation infrastructure that can be scaled up if successful. For the millions of farmers and residents in the Teesta basin who have waited decades for a comprehensive solution to the river's volatility, the pilot project represents the most concrete step forward in years — and a test of whether the new government can deliver on its infrastructure promises.