The government is planning a “blue network” surrounding Dhaka city, and work is already underway to restore six canals within the city, according to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

She shared this today (April 17) during a meeting with a visiting delegation led by Sumila Gulyani, Water Practice Head, South Asia Region of the World Bank. The meeting was held at the Water Development Board’s conference room in Dhaka.

She said the government plans to restore a total of 19 canals this year—including 12 new ones—by removing encroachments and pollution. In addition, efforts to clean up and protect the four rivers surrounding Dhaka—Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakshya—will also begin soon.

“What makes me hopeful,” she said, “is that the Water Development Board is now moving closer to the community. When a news report comes out and they respond quickly—visit the site, talk to people—it makes a real impact. It builds trust. People begin to rely on them. That’s where I’m putting my heart.”

During the meeting, she also sought the World Bank’s support in restoring and protecting the four rivers around Dhaka from pollution and illegal occupation.

She emphasized, “The top priority should be building trust with the people. That should be our first agenda. When implementing a project, there needs to be coordination between the engineer and the social worker so that people’s urgent needs are met with genuine empathy.”

She pointed out three major challenges the country is facing: floods and river erosion, lack of irrigation water, and silt accumulation. She instructed the relevant officials to keep these issues in mind while designing future projects.

Also present at the meeting were Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan, Additional Director General (East) of the Water Development Board Mohammad Enayet Ullah, Additional Director Md Rafiqul Islam Chowbe, and Additional Director General Md Zahirul Islam.