Despite several eviction programmes conducted by the government to recover bank of rivers surrounding the capital, the recovered river banks are being grabbed again due to poor surveillance of the authorities concerned. Visiting the Postagola Bridge of the capital, this correspondent on Saturday found that a number of encroachers have re-occupied the bank of Buriganga River recovered just few months ago.
It was found that, a group of people is illegally doing business of brick and sands on the north bank of the river. While asked, if they had any legal permission to conduct their businesses, they remained silent. It is mentionable that, in a bid to protect the country’s water bodies, including rivers, canals and haors, from mindless pollution and illegal occupation, the government has taken a strong stance against encroachers.
In fact, the government has taken ‘zero tolerance’ policy against the encroachment of rivers and other water bodies and through the ongoing drives it has made clear its firm resolve to evict the grabbers. Citing strong punishment, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said those who would encroach any river bank anywhere in the country will have to face legal actions. He went on saying that all the rivers of the country would be made encroachment-free to uphold the country’s image as a riverine country.
Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim said many rivers in the country have already died while some are grabbed erecting large infrastructures, establishments or industries, and also warned, none will be allowed to grab the rivers again.Dr Muzibur Rahman Howlader, chairman of National Rivers Conservation Commission (NRCC) informed, they got a list of 8,000 river grabbers from 15 districts, soon they will collect all the river grabbers’ list.
Howlader, however, assured that Dhaka and the area around it will be free from river grabbers within one year. In Bangladesh, some 405 rivers and 57 trans-boundary rivers are flowing. Due to climate change and different natural disasters and man-made problems, country’s rivers and water bodies are losing life very fast.
Around 77 rivers, including like the Chitra, Daudkhali, Chengrail, Ghanoraj, Betna, Mukuleswari, Labangabati, Herther, Atharobeki, Salta, Dakua Khal, Sui, Dhanu, Balardi, Phutki, Mora Kumar and Muchikhali, have totally disappeared from the map of the country, with their beds now being used as croplands, according to experts.
Besides, most portions of rivers like Padma, Ganges, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Dhaleswari, Sandhya, Meghna, Buriganga, Shitalakhya and Bangalee have already dried up because of the irresponsibility of local residents and the government’s negligence, complained green activists and river experts.
About 45 rivers, including Kaliganga, Bangshi, Banar, Patnai, Jadukatha, Manu, Mogra, Dakatia, Dhorla, Old Brahmaputra, Mohananda, Arialkha, Gorai, HuraSagor, Karotoa, Bibiana, Pagla, Rakti, Dakua, Barak, Patnai, Kangsha, Turag, Nabaganga, Ichhamati, Madhumati, Dumuria, Someswari, Balu, Jamuneswari and Dhaleswari, are about to die, an expert said.
