Save Karatoa

Bogra district administration arranged a special meeting with all stakeholders on Thursday, under the banner of District River Conservation Committee, at the District Administration Bhaban in Bogra.

Speakers at the programme addressed various issues including illegal occupation of rivers, pollution   of   water   and   environment.

They expressed their concerns about the Karatoa river as it's condition is worsening due to encroachment, pollution and illegal sand extraction.

Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of BAPA, Bogra, said,  “To save Karatoa, we need to remove the illegal structures from the river first, and set up river demarcation pillars following the CS (Counter strike) map to stop encroachment.” 

AKM Mahbubur Rahman, mayor of the Bogra municipality said, “In villages, people normally don't encroach the river, but in towns the powerful people are doing that. We have to identify the encroachers and ensure their punishment.” 

“Rivers are continuously encroached due to lack of monitoring by the local administration and law enforcers,” said, Momtaz Uddin, president of Bogra district Awami League.

“Karatoa in Bogra is already dead! First, we have to set up boundary pillars according to the CS map. Then we have to evict the encroachers. Afterwards we have to dredge to restore the normal flow of the Karatoa,” said, Md. Alauddin, member of the National River Conservation Commission.

“According to section-12 of River Conservation Act, 2013, our main duty is to remove all illegal occupants from the river, but unfortunately there is lack of implementation of the existing law. Hence, influential people get opportunities to encroach the river,” said, Dr. Mojibur Rahman Howlader, chief guest at the programme and also chairman of the National River Conservation Commission.

Deputy Commissioner, Bogra, Noor-e-Alam Siddique said, “If we work together and respect the law, we can revive the Karatoa river again.”