Bangladesh’s Water Resources Ministry on Thursday appointed Hasan Mahmud as project director of the Padma Barrage (First Phase) project, one day after Amar Desh reported slow progress in its implementation. Mahmud, superintendent engineer of the Feni Water Development Circle, received the assignment as an additional responsibility.

The report said more than three months had passed since Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approval, but visible progress was absent because a project director, deputy project director and required staff had not been appointed. Ministry and Finance Ministry sources said the staffing organogram had been approved, but disagreement between the Public Administration Ministry and Bangladesh Water Development Board over the project director appointment created complications and also delayed consultant recruitment.

The Tk34,500 crore, seven-year project was approved on May 13. The government says it could address water shortages, revive dying rivers, improve irrigation and protect biodiversity across 163 upazilas in 26 southwestern districts, while its proposal cites about 927,000 permanent jobs. Water experts called the barrage a national necessity amid India’s unilateral water withdrawal, while urging international-standard technical and environmental studies before implementation. The government hopes the prime minister will inaugurate construction in January-February next year.