ZCZC
BSS-14
MANNAN-DELTA PLAN
Mannan for local experts in framing, executing plans
DHAKA, Jan 16, 2020 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today underscored the need for utilizing local experts in framing and executing plans through various uplift schemes.
“We need to increase the dependency on the local expertise ……although it’ll work with the mixture of both local and foreign experts, but we need to be in the driving seat in all the fields,” he said.
The planning minister was addressing a book launching ceremony for “Integrated assessment for the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (BDP 2100): Analysis of selected intervention” held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Jointly organized by the Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) of BUET and the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission, BUET Prof Dr Munsur Rahman made a power-point presentation on the background and overview of the published book and way forward.
National Professor and Vice Chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific Professor Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury spoke on the occasion as the chief guest moderated by GED member Dr Shamsul Alam.
Echoing with the suggestion from Prof Jamilur to enhance dependency on the local experts in all sorts of development plans and projects execution, the Planning Minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also pursue such notion.
“It’s absolutely right and it’s not a matter of emotion. We can take the knowledge, experiences and can partner with our foreign friends. But, we’ll take full control and responsibility of our works.” He said, adding that the government is increasingly trying to stand on its own feet and talents towards materializing its development endeavors.
Prof Jamilur said Bangladesh does need foreign experts, but especially in those areas where there is lack in efficiency among local experts. “We’ll rely more on our local experts in solving national problems.”
Citing the example of the construction of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project which is expected to open for traffic at the end of this year or early next year, he said that this bridge project is one of the most challenging ones in the world and the Bangladeshi professionals are responsible for making this project a reality.
Prof Jamilur also opined that the BDP 2100 should not only be a constant document, rather there should be continuous interventions and recommendations.
GED Member Prof Dr Shamsul Alam said with the proper implementation of the BDP 2100, Bangladesh is expected to become free from extreme poverty by 2027 while the net GDP growth of the country is expected to grow by 1.5 percent.
He informed that the allocation against the BDP 2100 related projects has increased to 0.86 percent of the GDP which was previously 0.58 percent.
The GED member told a questioner that the Ganges barrage project is still in the list of BDP 2100 schemes and the approval of this project would take some time.
In his presentation, Professor Munsur of BUET showed that regular maintenance of coastal polders can counteract against the regular tidal flooding through accommodating the effect of climate change in terms of future sea level rise, additional raise of polder height is not required.
He said coastal afforestation can reduce the storm surge thrust significantly to provide additional safe guard to the embankments of sea facing polders.
Earlier on Sep 4, 2018, the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the much anticipated Delta Plan 2100 in a bid to tap the huge potentials of Bangladesh as a Delta country through water resources management, ensuring food and water security and tackling disasters.
The government would need $37 billion by 2030 for implementation of the Plan. The short term of the Plan will be implemented by 2030, the mid-term by 2050 while the long term by 2100.
The plan highlighted six hotspots including coastal areas (27,738 square kilometers), Barind and drought-prone region (22,848 square kilometers), haor and flash flood prone areas (16,574 square kilometers), CHT region (13,295 square kilometers), river region and estuaries (35,204 square kilometers) and urban region (19,823 square kilometers).
The General Economics Division (GED) prepared the plan with the assistance of the Dutch government and the World Bank.
BSS/ASG/GM/MMA/1630hrs