Twenty-one environmental organizations form a human chain to protect rivers in Bangladesh
Twenty-one Bangladeshi environmental organizations have made 11 demands, including the clearing and cleaning of all rivers and canals nationwide.
The 21 organizations, including Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), BARCIK,
Climate Action Pathways for Schools (CAPS), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) formed a human chain at the Sadarghat Terminal in the capital Dhaka on 20. This information was given in a press release sent by the Bangladesh Environment Movement (BAPA).
The demands of the environmental organizations include —
- Reorganize the National River Protection Commission and make it responsible for the guardianship of all rivers, bilges, haors and water bodies within the country in light of the Bangladesh High Court’s directives;
- Update and publish the list of all encroachers and take immediate steps to free the encroached rivers;
- Determine the boundaries of each river, canal, haor, and bilge in the light of hydrology after eviction of encroachment;
- Enforce everyone to comply with the provisions of the Bangladesh Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgment declaring the Teesta River as a living and legal entity;
- Take strong steps to completely stop the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers and other surface water bodies.
- Stop illegal and unplanned sand extraction from rivers and introduce a controlled process of sand extraction;
- Free all rivers and canals in the country from encroachment and pollution and stop the suicidal Teesta master plan, etc.
Dr. Halim Dad Khan, an executive member of BAPA, stated in his speech as president of the human chain that Bangladesh had around 1,500 rivers in the 11th century.
The rivers were wide, deep and full of water, and were inundated during the rainy season. The number of rivers that are navigable throughout the year is now 230 in total.
Once the encroachment is cleared, he believes the boundaries of each river, canal, Haor and Beel should be established based on water science.
Md Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of BAPA, stated that rivers nationwide are being encroached upon and polluted for various reasons. Government bureaucrats, leaders, and naval officials are also involved in this pollution.
Despite the existence of a law to protect rivers, the rivers are not being protected through proper implementation.
Speakers at the human chain included Suman Shams (NONGOR Trust), Faridul Islam Farid (BAPA Joint Secretary), Javed Jahan (BAPA Executive Committee Member), Arifur Rahman (Green Voice), Shah Ishrat Ajmeri, (Community Welfare Foundation -CWF)’s President), Edward A Madhu (CDP Officer), Sanjida Khan (ALRD Representative), and Md. Selim (Vice President of the Nawab Bagicha Social Development Welfare Council), Nazneen (GreenVoiceBD’s Central Committee Member), Babul Mia (WBB Trust Representative), Shakib Al Hasan (CAPS Representative), and Hena Akhter Rupa (BARCIK Representative) are among the participants.
