The government vows to recover all illegally encroached land on rivers banks and also free the rivers of any pollution. The State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury made the pledges on Saturday at an inaugural function on cleansing campaign of the four surrounding rivers of Dhaka. He said that it is time to reclaim the original appearance and also recover navigable channels of the rivers.
He mentioned that the rivers are already highly contaminated and they are beyond public use for recreation or even transportation in some places. The rivers have also lost depth as well as width at places which is why most of the channels of the rivers have lost navigable areas for large ships to ply. A section of influential people are also busy grabbing land on both sides of the rivers banks, the Minister also mentioned
“Our fight will continue until we fully recover the rivers banks from encroachers and bring back their original appearance (referring to pollution),” the Minister said. The minister also warned encroachers and polluters that they would be severely dealt with if they continue their illegal activities concerning the rivers.
The Minister made the above remarks while inaugurating waste and garbage removal activities on the bank of Turag River near Tongi-Abdullahpur, on the outskirts of the capital on Saturday.
He mentioned that due to the heavy pollution of the river Buriganga River it almost impossible to undertake tourism programme to show some of the historic buildings and monuments located near the river. On the initiatives to recover the rivers He said, “The present government has taken initiatives to free these rivers from pollution and land encroachers. As part of the masterplan, the government will set up boundary pillars, create walkways for public movement and build eco parks for recreation. We hope to achieve these development works within next 10 years.”
Among others Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Jahangir Alam, Parliament Member Advocate Sahara Khatun, Shipping Ministry Secretary Mohammad Abdus Samad, Columnist and environmentalist Syed Abul Mokshud also spoke on the occasion of the program. The inaugural programme was chaired by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairmen Commodore M Mahbub Ul Islam. The Minister also urged all to remain alert against encroachers reminding that the land grabbers are very powerful and asked everyone to be watchful round the clock.
