Like elsewhere in the world, the World Rivers Day-2023 was observed in the country on Sunday (September 24). This year the day was celebrated with the theme ‘Rights of Rivers’.
The World Rivers Day is celebrated globally on the fourth Sunday of September to raise awareness about river. The idea of the day came from a Canadian river conservationist. Later, the day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2005.
On the occasion of the World Rivers Day, different environmental platforms arranged various programmes in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Speakers of the events said that even though a law has been enacted declaring rivers as living entity in Bangladesh, many people are still involved in the culture of river pollution and encroachment. Many rivers across the country are currently extinct and the remaining rivers are also in a dangerous condition. Government institutions concerned are failing to show sufficient responsibility for river protection. To mark the World Rivers Day, Waterkeepers Bangladesh along with various local organisations simultaneously arranged various programmes at 12 places in the country, including Dhaka, on Sunday morning.
The World Rivers Day programme was arranged in Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Pekua, Taltali, Moheshkhali, Mongla, Kutubdia, Kalapara, Patharghata, Barguna Sadar, Paikgacha and Barishal Sadar.
In Dhaka, a seminar titled ‘River is a living entity’ was organised at National Press Club. Waterkeepers Bangladesh and some other platforms joirnlty arranged the seminar. Chief executive Bangladesh Environmental Law Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chairman of Nongar Trust Bangladesh Suman Shams, chairman of River and Delta Research Center Mohammad Azaz and chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation Ibnul Said Rana spoke at the seminar, among others.
Representatives of the civil society, river and environment organisers and the general people present in the programmes on Sunday at different places of the country under the initiative of Waterkeepers Bangladesh urged the authorities concerned to take steps to protect the rivers of Bangladesh.