Take action against illegal sand extraction

Environmentalists yesterday demanded strict measures against the people involved in illegal sand extraction from the riverbed, which hampers the water flow and triggers erosion.

They also said the authorities should build infrastructures like bridges and dams and dredge rivers in a planned manner after consultation with experts.

The rivers are the lifeline of Bangladesh; if the rivers live, the country's people will live, they said at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Bangladesh Nodi Bachao Andolon, a platform of campaigners for river conservation, organised it, marking the organisation's 14th founding anniversary.

The environmentalists also called upon the citizens to quit the habit of using rivers as a “junk bean or dumping ground” through frequent garbage disposal.

Chairman of National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) Muzibur Rahman Howlader said, “It is a fact that our elected lawmakers, their relatives and close people are involved in the grabbing of river land.”

He said no one, not even the country's president, is authorised to acquire or lease the land of the river.

Urging the deputy commissioners (DCs) of all districts to prevent grabbing, Muzibur said, “One week is enough to reclaim the grabbed parts of the rivers if the DCs want to do so.”

Nodi Bachao Andolon's Joint Organising Secretary Prof Amirul Islam said a group of people, under the umbrella of the ruling quarter, extract sand illegally from near the riverbank.

As a result, the river starts to flow close to the bank, instead of through the middle, and causes erosion, he said, demanding a stop to such sand extraction.

The platform's President Prof Anwar Sadat said political goodwill is a must to protect the rivers.

Writer-columnist Syed Abul Maksud urged people to raise their voice against river grabbing and pollution.