‘Adopt eco-friendly measures to curb riverbank erosion’
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for adopting innovative and environmentally sustainable solutions to tackle riverbank erosion and directed authorities to expand the use of vetiver grass to protect rivers, canals, embankments and transport infrastructure.
He made the directive while chairing a meeting at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat on Thursday on the use of vetiver grass for protecting riverbanks and canal embankments, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin said.
At the meeting, Muhammad Shariful Islam, pro-vice chancellor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a professor at its Department of Civil Engineering, presented the potential of vetiver grass as an environmentally friendly alternative to concrete blocks and geo-blocks.
The presentation highlighted that vetiver grass could help prevent erosion of riverbanks and canal embankments, protect coastal dykes, stabilise roads in char and haor areas, and safeguard roadsides and railway embankments.
It said the grass had already been used experimentally at several locations across the country with encouraging results and could provide a durable and cost-effective solution to erosion.
The meeting also discussed implementing the initiative on a larger scale through dedicated projects.
The prime minister appreciated the initiative and instructed relevant ministries and agencies to take necessary steps for its implementation.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions attended the meeting.
