No plans to narrow Jamuna river: WDB tells HC

The government today informed the High Court that it has no plans to narrow the Jamuna river.

Advocate Arobinda Kumar Roy, lawyer for the Water Development Board, told this to the court citing documents on the proposal during the hearing of a writ petition.

The "Jamuna River Sustainable Management Project-1" has been initiated after consultation with the prime minister's economic affairs advisor and world bank officials.

He also said the project is in the initial stage and dredging and embankment building works were yet to be approved.

The project has been initiated after consultation with the prime minister's economic affairs advisor and world bank officials.

After the hearing, the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam said the court will pass an order on the petition tomorrow.

The bench on May 28 ordered the Water Development Board to submit the relevant documents regarding the proposal.

Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh submitted the petition based on a report published in Bangla daily Kalbela on March 11, headlined "Jamuna Nadi Chhoto Korar Chinta" (Plan to narrow Jamuna river).

According to the report, WDB undertook the project to reduce the width of Jamuna.

In the petition, the organisation sought an HC order to take legal action against the officials involved in making the proposal for narrowing the river for committing misconduct under the Government Service Act.

Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid argued for the petitioner during the hearing.