The long-anticipated Padma Barrage construction project, valued at Tk 50,444 crore, has been halted at the final stage after it was not presented for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. The project aimed to restore biodiversity across 26 districts and 123 upazilas in Bangladesh’s southwest region, severely affected by India’s upstream water withdrawal. The Planning Ministry confirmed that despite all preparations, the project was not tabled for reasons not disclosed.

Geopolitical analysts view the delay as a sign of the interim government’s concession to India, while experts stress that India’s unilateral withdrawal of water from shared rivers has caused severe environmental and agricultural damage in Bangladesh. The Planning Ministry stated that the government’s current priority is to ensure a free and fair national election, after which the elected administration will decide on the project.

Documents show that India has repeatedly objected to the project during bilateral and technical discussions. Officials indicated that the proposal may be reconsidered in a future ECNEC meeting or by the next elected government.