Bangladesh will request different countries, including China, India, Nepal and Bhutan to provide flood forecasting data in time to mitigate the sufferings of people caused by the natural disaster, said water resources ministry adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday.
She said the interim government would continue regular engagements with the upstream countries to this end.
鈥楨fforts will also be taken to provide timely flood forecasts,鈥� the adviser said while presiding over a review meeting of the activities of different departments under the water resources ministry at the conference room of Pani Bhaban in the capital.
She said public hearings would be conducted in Feni and Cumilla, the areas recently severely affected by floods and future actions would be taken based on public feedback.
She, however, said that all barriers obstructing the natural flow of rivers must be removed. To this end, she directed the authorities concerned to take action against all illegal encroachments, including fisheries enclosures in the River Feni.
The adviser said that approval from the Department of Environment, Department of haor and Wetlands Development must be obtained before constructing any infrastructures in the haor areas.
In addition, Rizwana said all pumps under the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project must be activated and the extraction of groundwater in the project area must be stopped.
The meeting was attended by Nazmul Ahsan, water resources ministry and heads of different departments, among others.
The meeting also discussed the activities of the Joint River Commission, the flood control forecasting system of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the progress of activities in haor areas and the rehabilitation project under the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project.
The adviser stressed the importance of proper implementation of these projects for the greater national interest.
