Twelve rivers in Jhenaidah are illegally occupied, aquatic animals and the environment including fishes are under threat

–Adnan Mahfuz Tazvir (class VIII – English version,
Motijheel Ideal school and college, Dhaka.)

Twelve rivers are flowing over the six Upazilas (including big and small in size) of Jhenaidah district situated at the South-Western part of Bangladesh now have become so narrow that look like simple canals due to illegally occupied by the miscreants.

The rivers have water in the rainy season, but there is no water in the dry season. Due to which there are varieties of rice, jute, and mustard have become under threat. And on this occasion, the local influential illegal occupants become busy occupying the river banks. Houses, shops, and businesses are taking over the river.

According to local sources, the Nabaganga, the Chitra, the Kumar, the Begavati, the Gorai, the Ichamati, the Daku, the Kaliganga, the Kudla, the Phatki, the Buri and the Kapataxma rivers are flowing over Jhenaidah district. But due to the occupiers, they are on the way to disappear.

During the visit at site, it is found that houses, shops, and business organizations are being constructed illegally in various places of the river Nabaganga in Jhenaidah city.

All the garbage in the town is being drained into the river. As a result, the river water has poorly become contaminated. For this, on the one hand, the width of the river is decreasing day by day. On the other hand, the aquatic animals and the environment, including fish of indigenous species, are under threat.

Rashed Malita of the Kanchannagar area of Jheniadah district said that when he was a kid, he used to see many big sailboats in the Nabaganga River. The boats anchored in the Dhopaghata Bridge area, where traders used to come to Jhenaidah to do business.

But today, not even a cockleboat (tiny boat) runs on that river. Also though there is little water during the monsoon season, the water again dries up in the winter season, and the soil becomes cracked. Then the people of both sides of the river cross it by walking.

When Saroj Kumar Nath, the Deputy Commissioner of Jhenaidah, was asked about this matter, he answered that the source of the Nabaganga River originated from the Mathabhanga River has been closed at Chuadanga. It has been closed for many years.

At this time, he also said that his district administration has already sent a proposal to the district administration of Chuadanga with a request to take proper action to open the intake of the Nabaganga River as early as possible.

The district administration said it had sent proposals to the ministry for excavation of Chitra, Begavati, and Nabaganga rivers, including opening the intake of the Nabaganga river. He also hoped that the occupants would be evacuated by expediting raids in areas where illegal occupants are located.

Source: UNB