Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday inaugurated the rehabilitation work of the Muhuri-Kahua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project in Feni, aimed at reducing the long-standing problems of flooding, waterlogging and river erosion in Parshuram, Fulgazi and surrounding riverine areas.

The first phase of the project, estimated to cost Tk 1,542.16 crore, was inaugurated at an event held on the riverbank near the Kheyaghat-Muhuri Bridge in Parshuram upazila. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on June 16.

Under the project, 67.92 kilometres of embankments will be rehabilitated, 83.50 kilometres of rivers and water bodies will be re-excavated, 11.73 kilometres of riverbanks will be protected, 27 irrigation structures will be rehabilitated and 77 inlets will be constructed or rehabilitated.

According to the Water Development Board, the project is scheduled to be implemented over five years, from July 2026 to June 2031. Its objectives include improving flood control and drainage, expanding irrigation facilities, increasing the water-carrying capacity of rivers, reducing river erosion and protecting agricultural land and infrastructure.

Feni’s northern areas frequently experience flooding and waterlogging during the monsoon due to rising water levels in the Muhuri-Kahua rivers and water flowing downstream from upstream areas. The resulting floods have caused damage to agricultural land, homes and infrastructure in Parshuram, Fulgazi and other riverside areas.

Water Development Board officials said the first phase includes embankment construction and protection, river excavation and other related works. The project is planned to be divided into six or seven sections for implementation.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, Feni-1 MP Munshi Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Feni-2 MP Prof Zainal Abdin, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim and Superintendent of Police Pratyush Kumar Majumder were present at the inauguration.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to take part in a tree-planting programme at Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College in Fulgazi. He will later inaugurate the supply of electricity to the national grid from a rooftop solar facility at the District Council Dak Bungalow.

In the afternoon, he is scheduled to attend a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground to distribute Family Cards and Farmer Cards and provide honorariums to imams, muezzins and people working at various religious institutions.

This is Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first official visit to Feni since assuming office. He left his Gulshan residence for Parshuram by road at around 8:40am and reached the Ghatghar area near the Muhuri Bridge around 12:30pm.

The Prime Minister’s visit had initially been scheduled for September 17 but was later postponed and rescheduled for October 1.