Rivers are of immense importance in maintaining the balance of the environment
In Bangladesh, 31 rivers in the Sylhet Division are endangered due to illegal construction, industrial pollution, and silt filling. Among them are the two main rivers of Sylhet, Surma and Kushiara.
This information was recently unveiled during the ‘Sylhet Divisional Workshop on Rivers.’ The workshop was jointly organized by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association: BELA, Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Water Rights Forum at a resort in Sylhet.
The workshop reported that the National River Protection Commission of Bangladesh estimates there are 1,008 rivers in the country as of 2023. In the Sylhet division, there are a total of 168. Among them 35 in Sylhet, 97 in Sunamganj, 8 in Moulvibazar and 28 in Habiganj.
Although negotiators claim, there is a mistake in the official information. Many rivers in Bangladesh have disappeared. Sylhet boasts a number of rivers that are documented, yet they are non-existent. Apart from this, several river banks are occupied by 1 thousand 194 people.
Surma, Kushiara, Dawki, Pian, Dhalai, Lova, Sari, Basia and Chengerkhal rivers in Sylhet are in the most critical condition among the four districts of this division in the north-eastern part of the country. Sunamganj’s Dhopjan, Jadukata, Naljur, Boulai, Rakti, Chela, Khashimara, Kushiura, Mahram, Mahasing and Boka rivers are on the verge of extinction.
Dhalai, Manu, Juri, Kanthinala and Gopla rivers in Moulvibazar and Khoai, Sutang, Sonai, Barak, Kashti and Karangi rivers in Habiganj district are also endangered today.
The main issues affecting rivers include illegal quarrying, pollution, unplanned construction of embankments and bridges, disconnection from canals, and mismanagement of sediment, leading to critical conditions in the rivers.
Sylhet’s main river Surma, Kushiara, Khoai, Jadukata, Manu and other rivers, canals, mountain ridges are disappearing due to encroachment and pollution. Garbage is dumped across the river banks.
In some places, buildings are being built by occupying the banks. Apart from that, the process of silting up the river has started due to stone and sand extraction. Some traditional fish dealers from Kazirbazar have occupied the wall built along the banks of the Surma River near Sylhet city.
The Bangladesh Water Development Board reports that 450 meters of the Surma River in Sylhet City Corporation is occupied by 23 squatters. They have built 72 structures on the banks of the river. However, they were evicted in November 2019. They are retaking the vacated place.
Apart from this, 250 meters of Surma river in Kanighat Bazar are occupied by six local squatters. A total of 23 unlawful structures have been constructed in that location. On the other hand, 300 meters of Surma river in Gachbari area of Kanighat Upazila is in the hands of squatters. There are 25 River engulfer have occupied 300 meters of Surma in Gachbari area of the same Upazila and built a structure.
In Balaganj, Sylhet, twenty local River engulfers have unlawfully seized 250 meters of the Kushiara River, erecting twenty unauthorized structures in the process. The Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory and Kushiara Power Plant in this Upazila are located 10 meters from the river.
There are 17 encroachers of the local Chanderpur area who have built 20 structures on the 300 meters bank of Kushiara in Golapganj upazila. Local businessmen have built 35 paved, semi-paved and tin shed houses on the 900-meter bank of Kushiara in Fenchuganj.
Apart from this, four structures have been built occupying 100 meters of Goain river in Goainghat upazila. The Upazila Parishad itself has built structures by occupying these places.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet M Kazi Emdadul Islam said that the importance of rivers locally is immense. Various ministries of the government have taken various initiatives to keep these rivers alive.
At one point the National River Protection Commission was also formed. This commission gives various guidelines to ensure that the rivers are free from encroachment. We continue all kinds of efforts to protect the river as a whole. It is an ongoing process.
