The government hopes to inaugurate the Padma Barrage project in February 2027.

Ahead of the milestone, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Water Resources is scheduled to visit Sujanagar in Pabna on 25 October to inspect the project site.

The decisions and updates were announced following the committee’s second meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.

The committee’s chairman Mohammad Shafiqul Huq Milan, presided over the meeting, while it was attended by members Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, AE Sultan Mahmud Babu, Mazharul Islam, Md Faridul Kabir Talukder, Md Ijjat Ullah, Md Oli Ullah, and Md Mashiur Rahman Khan.

Secretary of the ministry, directors general of agencies under the ministry, heads of relevant organisations and board officials, along with officials of the Parliament Secretariat, were also present at the meeting.

The proposed visit to Sujanagar will be part of the committee’s assessment of the project, while the February 2027 target remains tentative rather than a confirmed inauguration date.

The meeting also discussed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. No final decision was made on whether to continue the existing treaty or renew it, although related activities are ongoing, according to a press release.

The committee reviewed the implementation progress of several water management and river protection projects across the country. These included projects to prevent erosion along the Brahmaputra and Jinjiram rivers in Jamalpur, and riverbank protection work along the left bank of the Jamuna, the Old Brahmaputra and the Alai rivers in the district.

The meeting also examined progress on the re-excavation, pollution control and eviction of illegal encroachments along the Barnai River in Rajshahi and Natore.

In addition, officials presented reports on the second revised rehabilitation project for embankments along the Naf River in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district, aimed at improving border security along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier.

The committee also reviewed emergency maintenance and rehabilitation work under the Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project.