Now is the right time to free rivers from pollution and illegal encroachment-Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain
Staff Reporter
Advisor on Shipping and Labor and Employment Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain
The Shipping Advisor calls on local administrations to play a more effective role in saving rivers from pollution and illegal encroachment
Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the interim government, Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, said that Bangladesh is a country with many rivers.
The people of this country are directly and indirectly dependent on rivers. However, it is sad to say that river channels have been encroached in the name of development. To save rivers, they must be freed from pollution and illegal encroachment. Now is the right time to save rivers. If we do it at another time, conflict of interest will start.
He said these things while delivering his speech as the guest of honor at the seminar on determining the number of rivers in Bangladesh organized by the Ministry of Water Resources at the Pani Bhawan in the capital on December 10.
Stressing on the need for coordinated initiatives by all ministries and departments to save the river, the Shipping Advisor said that steps will be taken to make the Buriganga River pollution-free this winter season. The Shipping Ministry will provide the necessary manpower and equipment. All illegal structures along the river banks must be demolished. The local administration must play an effective role in protecting the river and canals from pollution and illegal encroachment.
After eviction, encroachment is happening again. Illegal sand extraction from the river must be stopped. The local administration must take more responsibility to protect the river. The unplanned city drains should be closed, the advisor opined.
The advisor also said that in the name of development, canals have been filled and drains have been built. The rivers of North Bengal have been encroached. There has been an incredible amount of river pollution. Buriganga River and other major rivers have lost their navigability. It is the need of the hour to restore the navigability of the river through planned dredging.
The advisor said that canals and rivers should be defined separately.