Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has said that work on the long-awaited Teesta Mega Project will begin soon, aiming to improve the livelihoods of nearly 2 crore people in the Rangpur region.
He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking at an event in Holokhana under Kurigram Sadar Upazila.
Dulu said the issue of the Teesta Mega Project was highlighted by President Mohammed Shahabuddin on the opening day of the national parliament. He added that discussions have already taken place with Prime Minister, and the necessary assessments are currently underway to implement the project.
The Minister was addressing the gathering while inaugurating what organisers described as the world’s largest cooking cauldron, installed by Bidyanondo Foundation as part of its Mega Kitchen Project.
According to the foundation, the massive cauldron has been built to cook food for disadvantaged people and to facilitate the rapid distribution of meals during disasters. The cauldron covers an area of 770 square feet, with a diameter of 31.5 feet and a depth of 4.5 feet. It is capable of preparing food for nearly 100,000 people at once.
The cauldron officially began operations on the first day of Ramadan, when meals were prepared for around 100,000 people.
Dulu also said the ministry has already launched programmes to address three types of disasters, including winter-related emergencies.
He added that steps are being taken to establish a disaster research centre in Gazipur, where both local and international researchers will conduct studies on disaster management.
In addition, the minister announced that around 1,500 kilometres of canals will be excavated across the country this year under the ministry’s initiatives, including in Kurigram district. Ongoing programmes such as the TR and Kabikha schemes will continue, and special relief (GR) assistance will be provided in areas where large numbers of people are affected to ensure that no one suffers.