DHAKA, May 2: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday launched a riverfront development project along the Surma River in Sylhet, focusing on flood protection infrastructure and riverbank beautification.
The initiative is part of broader government efforts to strengthen urban resilience in flood-prone areas of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, which regularly faces severe monsoon flooding.
A 2024 UNICEF report highlighted the urgency of such measures, noting that flash floods in Sylhet affected more than 2 million people and forced over 51,000 into shelters.
During his visit, Rahman also inaugurated re-excavation work on the Basia River, where a decades-old canal had become blocked. Officials say restoring the waterway will improve irrigation, ease waterlogging, and enhance flood management for nearby communities. (PTI)
