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central region and Meghna estuary, affecting rivers like the Arial Khan and allowing salinity intrusion further inland.

And thirdly, implementing the project would undermine Bangladesh’s ability to demand its fair share of Ganges water from India during the dry season, the statement said .

Bapa urged the government to ratify the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention and intensify diplomatic efforts to secure Ganges water instead of pursuing new mega structures.

It also called for removing obstacles such as sluice gates at distributary mouths to restore natural river flows.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) yesterday approved the Padma Barrage (First Phase) project at an estimated cost of Tk 34,497.25 crore. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting at the Secretariat.

The WDB, under the water resources ministry, will implement the project following Planning Commission recommendations. Fully funded by the government, the mega project is scheduled for completion by June 2033.