State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad inspected a damaged Khowai River embankment in Kaliganj, Laskarpur Union of Habiganj Sadar Upazila at 11am on Tuesday. He said projects needed to ease people’s suffering would be taken up quickly, following flooding caused by the breach.

Azad said he visited on the instruction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to pursue a permanent solution. As an immediate measure, he said the embankment would be repaired with geo-bags. Habiganj-3 MP and Whip Alhaj GK Gaus, Habiganj-2 MP Dr Sakhawat Hasan Jibon, Deputy Commissioner GM Sarfaraz, Water Development Board Executive Engineer Sayedul Haque and local residents were present.

He said several projects had been adopted to prevent Habiganj town from being inundated, with work expected to begin immediately after the monsoon. Rising Khowai River water breached the embankment on Sunday morning, flooding at least 20 villages. Cropland, ponds and fish from fisheries were washed away, according to the report.