PM chairs meeting on use of binna grass to protect riverbanks

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday chaired a meeting on the use of eco-friendly binna grass as a sustainable solution to protect riverbanks and canal embankments from erosion, where participants discussed its wider application following encouraging results from pilot projects. 

At the meeting held at the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Prime Minister appreciated the alternative and innovative initiative for environmental protection and instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to take the necessary measures, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

Dr Muhammad Shariful Islam, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), gave a presentation on the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable binna grass as an alternative to concrete blocks and geo-blocks for preventing erosion of riverbanks and canal embankments. 

He also highlighted its potential for protecting coastal embankments, roads in char and haor areas, and roads and railway tracks from erosion.

Dr Shariful, also a professor of BUET Civil Engineering department, said binna grass could serve as an effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to preventing riverbank and canal erosion. 

The grass has already been used on an experimental basis at several locations across the country, he added.

Considering the positive results of the pilot projects, the meeting also discussed implementing the initiative on a larger scale through projects. 

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, and senior officials of the relevant ministries and divisions attended the meeting.