Environmental advisor of the Bangladesh instructed to determine the exact number of rivers in the country
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a leading environmentalist and advisor in Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR), ordered to finalize the exact number of rivers in the country within the next 2 months.
These instructions are given to Bangladesh Water Development Board(BWDB), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), National River Conservation Commission and Divisional Commissioners. Besides, the Advisor directed the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to clear the banks of important rivers, including Kirtankhola River, Rupsa River from illegal encroachment.
At the virtual inter-ministerial meeting on September 12, she provided instructions to assess the number of rivers in Bangladesh and address the pollution of endangered rivers.
The water resource advisor suggested that the joint list should be published on the website for public feedback and objections. Accepting objections in this regard and hearing in applicable cases.
Identify 64 rivers across 64 districts of Bangladesh and create a time-bound, cost-effective action plan within two months to remove illegal encroachments through coordinated operations.
She said, “The Department of Environment (Bangladesh) will list the most polluted rivers in the country.” Regular operations and monitoring should be done to control pollution by identifying polluting individuals or institutions. The department will list the rivers affected by plastic pollution and plan the action to get rid of the pollution.
The Environment Department is set to issue health cards for all rivers. Local communities, youth, social organizations, and NGOs should take responsibility for monitoring operations to prevent encroachment and pollution. In all offices, the use of plastic water bottles, plastic folders and plastic banners should be avoided.
The advisor said, ‘BIWTA will discuss the latest status of Dhaka Circular Waterway proposal and the feasibility of this proposal with experts. The relevant ministry will regularly review the progress of the implementation of the above instructions.
Nazmul Ahsan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Secretary of the Ministry of Land, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Chairman of BIWTA, Director General of the Department of Environment, Director General of the Department of Land Records and Survey, representatives of the River Protection Commission and departmental commissioners also spoke in the meeting.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board, River conservation Commission, Ministry of Shipping, and water experts have noted changes in the total number of rivers in the country.
A decision was made in the meeting to create an action plan to implement the directives from the writ filed in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
