The fourth Sunday of September every year since 2005, the World Rivers Day is celebrated across the world’s waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world.
In response of the call from the founder of the World River Day Mark Angelo, River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) organised a special youth football tournament in Dhaka on Friday night.
Football clubs from Dhaka local youth, corporate houses, universities and international students of the universities participated in this tournament.
The day-long 5A side football tournament has innovative approach of awareness and campaign for the restoration of rivers and waterbodies. The theme of the tournament was Raise Your Voice to Save Rivers.
Every football players who were youth express their solidarity to their favorite rivers. When footballers were asked about their favorite rivers, they replied what is their rivers and their thoughts about that particular waterbody.
Placards, festoon and banners were also given to them to demonstrate their attachment with their own rivers. International students from Nigeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and African countries expressed their stories along the rivers. Dhaka youth also shared their thoughts and demonstrated theirs feeling and status of pollution, degradation of their rivers.
Organising this innovative tournament, chairman of River and Delta Research Centre RDRC Mohammad Azaz said, “Youths are the key change makers of this Globe. To establish the rights of our rivers, youth have to come forward and take the driving wheel. We want youth engagement in conservation movements. We are organising this tournament where Bangladeshi and International students and corporate professionals will be aware about their rivers and engage in awareness campaign.
This youth engagement will widen the strength of conservation of our waterbodies and face global climate crisis.
Mohammad Azaz also said, “When we asked them, what is your favorite river? With so much enthusiasm they can are shown that a river can be restored and protected though using social media and can create campaign by themselves. This inspires them a lot. Our job is nothing but to integrate these youth with the global call.”
On the occasion of price giving ceremony CEO Change Initiatives M Zakir Hossain Khan was present as chief guest. Along with the tournament organizer, chairman of RDRC Mohammd Azaz the managing director of Petronas Energy Ltd. Md Amanullah Liton and high officials of corporate houses were present on the occasion.
Zakir Hossain Khan said, “I am very pleased to have this opportunity to spend quality time with the energetic youth who came forward for rivers. I believe, natural resource conservation is a noble cause, youth have historical contribution of any change in our life. In response of all the inequalities and global natural disaster the raise of strong voice is crucial. I congratulate all of you who won the cup and happy World rivers day 2023.”
Young entrepreneur of Petronas Energy Ltd Mr. Md Amanullah Liton said for positivity and healthy life healthy environment and healthy rivers are crucial. Corporate and factory owners must ensure their factory standards according to environment standards so that rivers will remain free of pollution. We are planning to provide indoor sports facility for the youth in Dhaka soon.
In the tournament, Sharif Metal FC and Senior NCS competed in the final. The Sharif Metal FC won the championship Tittle scoring 2/1 goals in trailbreaker shots. The World River Day International Team have acknowledged this tournament in their program list and announced from the center by WRD Communications Manager.
More than 100 countries will be participating this year across 6 continents, in what has become one of the planet’s biggest environmental celebrations. The events being organized are incredibly diverse and will be either physical or virtual in nature. The types of river-related celebrations and events that can take place are limited only by our imagination.
