Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday stressed the need for adopting innovative and environmentally sustainable solutions to tackle riverbank erosion and asked the authorities to move forward with the use of vetiver grass to protect rivers, canals, embankments and transport infrastructure.
He gave the directive while chairing a meeting at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat on the use of vetiver grass for protecting riverbanks and canal embankments, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.
At the meeting, Dr Muhammad Shariful Islam, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology(Buet) and a professor of the university's Civil Engineering Department, made a presentation on the use of vetiver grass as an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to concrete blocks and geo-blocks.
He highlighted its potential to prevent erosion of riverbanks and canal embankments, protect coastal dykes, stabilise roads in char and haor areas, and safeguard roadsides and railway embankments.
The presentation said vetiver grass could provide an effective, durable and eco-friendly solution to erosion. It also noted that the grass has already been used experimentally at several locations in the country with encouraging results.
The meeting also discussed implementing the initiative on a larger scale through dedicated projects.
The Prime Minister appreciated such innovative and environment-friendly initiatives and instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to take the necessary steps for their implementation.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid, PM’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, and senior officials from the relevant ministries and divisions attended the meeting.