Tk 107 crore in new projects proposed to end waterlogging in Cox's Bazar
The government is implementing several projects to end waterlogging and modernise the drainage system in Cox's Bazar town, one of the country's main tourist cities. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moeen Khan said that alongside the ongoing projects, proposals have been made to take up several more major projects.
The information was given in a written answer during the question-answer session on the first day of the fourth session of the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday (9 November). Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, presided over the session. As the minister was absent, State Minister Shah Alam answered the question on his behalf.
The details of the government's initiatives were presented in reply to a written question from Shamim Ara Begum Swapna, MP from reserved women's seat-21. In her question, she wanted to know what steps the government was taking to build a modern drainage network and renovate the existing drains to solve the town's waterlogging and weak drainage problems.
The written reply said that under the Resilient Urban and Territorial Development Project, implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), work is under way in Cox's Bazar municipality to widen roads and build drains, street lights and footpaths at a cost of Tk 25.20 crore.
Under the same project, there are plans to take up more development schemes worth Tk 80 crore in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Tenders for these works may be invited in January 2027.
To improve the water drainage system, the Urban Development and City Governance Project plans to build 3.13 kilometres of new drains in Cox's Bazar municipality. These drains will carry water into the Bakkhali river.
The project also includes re-excavating 666 metres of canal and building 10 RCC box culverts, catch pits, pipes, slabs, manholes and a 140-metre link road. The estimated cost of the project is Tk 33.58 crore.
On future plans, the reply said nine more sub-projects have been proposed based on the current needs of Cox's Bazar municipality. Of these, seven are for road and drain improvement and two are for drain construction and rehabilitation. The total estimated cost of these sub-projects is Tk 107 crore.
In addition, under the Local Government Covid-19 Response and Recovery Project, various development sub-projects are being taken up and implemented following a bottom-up approach based on the needs of local people.
Under this project, 1.71 kilometres of road and 1.69 kilometres of drain have already been built in Cox's Bazar municipality. Work is currently under way on another 0.84 kilometres of road and 0.48 kilometres of drain.
