Country’s rivers and water bodies, the sources of natural water resources are getting narrower fast due to illegal occupation and unchecked pollution, according to media reports. The authorities concerned had conducted drives on various occasions to demolish illegal structures from the rivers, but these eviction drives could not bring any fruitful results in restoring the original nature of the rivers. It was also noticed that the government’s various initiatives to oust the grabbers were either foiled or barred by the local influential on several occasions.
So, the government should go for extensive drives to free the illegally grabbed rivers, canals and water bodies across the country. And thus we have to face the consequences. But, we do believe that country’s rivers and other water bodies will get back their life from such drives and none, even ‘godfathers’ and ‘dons’, would be spared in this regard as Sheikh Hasina's government has taken a harsh stance against such crimes and it has already made clear its "zero-tolerance policy" against rivers and water bodies grabbers.
In this regard, we are calling upon the lawmakers, all political influential and people from all walks of life to stand beside the concerned authorities, local administrations and the members of law enforcement agencies and extend all-out support to make the countrywide drive a success. And the people of the country will also get relief and it is the demand of the people as rivers are the lifeline of Bangladesh.
At present there are only around 5,000
kilometres of
waterways in the country
The countrymen will be satisfied with the eviction drive which is set to be launched by the ministry of water resources with support from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), law-enforcement agencies and local administration. We also think that the government is progressing in right track to make river free from illegal grabbers.
Simultaneously, we also consider that the need for raising mass awareness to save rivers and water bodies from the grabbers is a must. Apart from these, we all countrymen will have to change our mindset and need to find ways to protect rivers and canals at any cost as these are being filled up illegally, and people in those areas are forced to sell or leave their land by a vested group of real estate developers. Keeping in mind that improved water quality and natural flow only can protect our biodiversity and flora and fauna those are very important for human existence. And our countrymen can profit from better and more predictable water flow for our crops and fishing also.
Country’s waterways are declining day by day as a section of unscrupulous people under the shelters of political, influential and powerful people is grabbing the lands of rivers and canals. The grabbers continued to build industries, buildings and installing various other business establishments in the rivers or on the banks of the rivers.According to a study, around 19,000 out of 24,000 kilometres of waterways of the country have phased out due to grabbing of rivers and filling up of the rivers and canals after the independence of the country. At present there are only around 5,000 kilometres of waterways in the country.
So, the government will have to take steps to restore the original channels of the rivers by setting up boundary pillars as per the CS record, cancellation of the leases of water bodies, eviction of illegal structures on the banks of rivers, and setting up effluent treatment plants to check water pollution.