An initiative to develop a “Blue Network” surrounding Dhaka city will soon be implemented, according to Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. She made the statement during a meeting with a delegation from the World Bank led by Sumila Gulyani, Practice Manager of Water for South Asia, held at the conference room of the Water Building in the capital.

Rizwana Hasan mentioned that excavation work is already underway on six canals within Dhaka city as part of the early phases of this project. In addition to these, a total of 19 canals will be cleared of encroachment and pollution within this year to pave the way for the proposed Blue Network. The objective is to restore the natural flow and ecological integrity of Dhaka’s waterways while also enhancing the city’s resilience against waterlogging and other urban challenges.

During the meeting, she emphasized the importance of earning public trust before implementing any development project. According to her, establishing trust with the community should be treated as a top priority. She further highlighted the need for coordination between engineers and social workers during project implementation to ensure that local communities' urgent needs are addressed with empathy and sincerity.

In her discussion with the World Bank delegation, Rizwana Hasan also sought international support for the restoration of four rivers surrounding Dhaka, which have long been affected by encroachment and pollution. She noted that collaboration with development partners like the World Bank will be crucial for the success of such large-scale environmental and infrastructural initiatives.

She pointed out three major challenges facing Bangladesh in the water resources sector. The first is the problem of flooding and river erosion, the second is the lack of adequate water for irrigation purposes, and the third is the accumulation of silt in water bodies. She directed officials involved in project planning and implementation to consider these critical issues while designing and executing projects under the Blue Network framework.

Several senior officials were present during the meeting, including Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Nazmul Ahsan, Additional Director General (Eastern Region) of the Water Development Board Mohammad Enayet Ullah, Additional Director Md. Rafiqul Islam Chowbe, and Additional Director General Md. Zahirul Islam.

The Blue Network project, envisioned as a long-term solution to Dhaka’s urban water management and environmental sustainability, is expected to bring lasting benefits to the city by improving water flow, reducing urban flooding, and restoring biodiversity in and around the capital. The government’s efforts, in collaboration with international partners, aim to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environment for the residents of Dhaka.