A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was held on Monday at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat to evaluate the implementation of eco-friendly vetiver grass for soil erosion prevention and infrastructure protection across the country.

Confirming the development, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin stated that Dr. Mohammad Shariful Islam, a faculty member and researcher from the Department of Civil Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), submitted a proposal on vetiver grass deployment during the session.

Meeting participants acknowledged the practical benefits of the plant and agreed on its prospective integration into national road and embankment engineering projects.

To advance the initiative, a technical committee led by the Prime Minister's Finance and Planning Adviser, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, alongside Dr. Mohammad Shariful Islam, was constituted to evaluate candidate projects in detail.

Additionally, the meeting resolved to formulate standard usage guidelines in coordination with the Ministry of Planning.

Internationally recognized for embankment reinforcement, vetiver grass features extensive root systems that quickly penetrate deep underground to firmly bind soil structures together.

The resilient plant species thrives under harsh environmental conditions, withstanding temperature extremes, extended waterlogging, and high salinity levels.

The session was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Agriculture Ministry’s Mohammed Aminur Rashid, and Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

Also present were State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid, and State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan.