175 water bodies out of 230 dried up

Some 175 out of 230 large water bodies in the country have dried up or have been illegally occupied creating serious water security issues, according to a report by Chatham House, a London-based international affairs institute, yesterday.   
It also said five major rivers of the country -- the Shitalakkhya, Dakatia, Karnaphuli, Betna and Surma -- have been completely encroached upon.
The findings of the report on Attitude to Water in South Asia were revealed at a programme organised by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at a hotel in the capital.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud was the chief guest.
The report added almost 1,200 encroachers are in Dhaka even under the watch of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).