Prime Minister’s Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir today said the government estimates the Padma Barrage project could raise the country’s GDP by 0.5-1 percent. If implemented, the project could store 2,900 million cubic metres of water, generate 113 megawatts of hydropower, and improve irrigation in several regions. Saimum Parvez, special assistant to the prime minister on environment, forest and climate change, said the BNP’s election manifesto had included the Padma Barrage as its sole mega project. Prof Javed Hossain of North South University urged clarifying water‑sharing arrangements with India and evaluating alternatives before committing. Among them were National Press Club General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan; Dhaka Central University Vice‑Chancellor Dr Nurul Islam; North South University Vice‑Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury; Prof Dr Md Sirajul Islam of NSU’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department; and Rancon Infrastructure and Engineering COO Subail Bin Alam.