Toilets still there

The recently built toilets on the ground floor of a two-story building on the east side of the Surma river, near the Kazirbazar bridge under Sylhet city, is still being used by the fish traders despite numerous protests from the green activists and lack of intervention from the authorities concerned.

While visiting the area Tuesday, this correspondent saw there were eight such toilets and the waste was directly being released into the river through pipes.

This newspaper also published a report titled “Toilets occupying river land a new way to kill Surma” on September 10, highlighting the issue.

The toilets have been built by Kazirbazar Fisheries Agent Association (Kazirbazar Matsya Arotdar Samity) for the fish traders of the area.

“Surma is a part of the country's history. But the river is under constant threat due to encroachment, dumping of waste and recently the toilets along its bank,” said Abdul Karim Kim, the Surma river keeper and general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Sylhet.

Contacted, Jahangir Alam, general secretary of Kazirbazar Fish Traders association, said the land belonged to them.

“We urge the concerned authorities to take necessary measures,” said Abdul Hye Al Hadi, chief coordinator, Save the Heritage and Environment.

The green activists also submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Sylhet on Saturday demanding immediate removal of the toilets.

They said the river banks cannot be sold or settled and as per the Land Management Manual, no one is allowed to construct a building on the river banks let along toilets.

“The DC said he will dismantle the toilets within 24 hours, but nothing happened,” said Abdul Karim Kim yesterday.

Contacted, Sylhet DC Md Joynal Abedin said, “I did not specify any time. But I have already appointed a magistrate to look into the issue and will order the Water Development Board to demolish the toilets as soon as possible.”