The government is constructing 139 polders in the coastal belt to protect the areas from tidal surges and floods, State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said Saturday.

The government is taking a Tk 100 crore project to repair embankments damaged during cyclone Amphan, State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk said Thursday.

There is a very good boro production in the country this time and that has to be harvested properly before the flood hits the country, said State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk on Sunday.   The junior minister came up with the advice while addressing a meeting of his ministry on taking precautionary measures to control flood in vulnerable areas during the upcoming monsoon.   Zahid Faruk said the projects, especially that of dams in haor areas, need to be there in focus to complete those before the monsoon sets in.    Referring to the shutdown enforced in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem told the meeting that the boro crop is very important for the country at this time of unprecedented scale of pandemic. “So, farm workers have to be hired from other districts, if needed, for harvesting the paddy.”   He also sought cooperation from local MPs in bringing workers under the current relief programmes of the government.   Enamul Hoque said directives have also been given to ensure social distancing and other safety measures in harvesting.

State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque on Friday said the government will undertake a Tk 10,546 crore project for constructing and repairing 4,451km embankment damaged in cyclone Bulbul.