Govt plans Tk 6.14b dev projects for Arial Beel in five years

The government has outlined development projects worth Tk 6.14 billion for Arial Beel over the next five years, beginning in 2026, according to a study conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), a trust organisation under the Ministry of Water Resources.

The study revealed that nearly one-third of the wetland has already been encroached on by land grabbers. These findings were shared during a national workshop held on Thursday in the capital.

The event was organised to discuss the outcomes of the project titled "Study on the Living Standards and Integrated Water and Land Resource Management in Arial Beel Area", implemented by Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetlands Development .

Arial Beel, located in Srinagar Upazila of Munshiganj, is the third-largest wetland in Bangladesh, spanning an area of 136 square kilometres.

The aim of the project is to develop nature-based solutions and integrated water and land resource management plans for the protection of the wetland's aquatic ecosystem, fishery, biodiversity, and to improve the quality of life in the Arial Beel region.

The workshop was chaired by Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources.

Distinguished guests included Lieutenant General (Retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture; Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Housing and Public Works; and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Adilur Rahman Khan said, "Arial Beel is a glaring example of environmental destruction across the country, where natural reservoirs have been filled in. Steps should be taken to make the Arial Beel area accessible by water transport."

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated, "We have all contributed to the pollution and encroachment of Arial Beel. Although there are projects worth billions of taka, no real work is being done. We must all work together to restore the Arial Beel."

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "We are working towards declaring the Arial Beel wetland area as a protected site. At the same time, we plan to issue a gazette notification officially granting it protected status."

She added, "The dams and sluice gates on the canals connected to Arial Beel must be removed. A list must be prepared of those occupying the canals and those who have filled parts of the beel. Before any of the 530 hectares of land in Arial Beel are sold or reclassified, the deputy commissioner must be informed. Under no circumstances should the category of this reservoir land be altered."

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