Local admin, leaders blamed for river destruction

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, centre, at a press conference of the organisation at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. Photo: Focus Bangla

The lower tiers of the administration and influential leaders are facilitating destruction of the rivers, though the government is spending huge money to save them, environmentalists said yesterday.
A new phenomenon of destroying rivers has emerged, they said, in which the local land administration first declares rivers as "degraded water bodies" and then other departments of the government provide money for excavating those for fish farming, bringing benefit for local influential leaders.
The environmental activists made the remarks at a press conference organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), an environmental organisation, at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city.
They said crores of money is being spent for the cause of protecting rivers, but still most of the rivers remain on the verge of destruction.
In a written statement, Bapa general secretary Dr Abdul Matin described Boral River as the worst example of river destruction by the government. He said that in 1985, the government erected at least eight sluice gates and four cross dams in the river, causing the water flow to decrease and the river to dry up.
“Therefore, grabbing, pollution, fish farming, constructing houses, and culverts went unabated, putting the river on the brink of destruction”, he said.
Although the upper level of the government, especially the prime minister, announced firm stand to protect rivers, the lower tiers and political leaders are not speaking likewise, as they are the beneficiaries, he said.
There were 750 rivers in the country in the sixties and the number came down to 230 now, he said, adding that 25 out of 230 rivers are now near dead.
Dr Matin demanded removal of cross dams, culverts, regulators, sluice gates, and structures from all rivers immediately and requested the local administration and political leaders to keep rivers free from grabbing, pollution, and structures.
Bapa president Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said rivers are being destroyed frequently by putting up dams, building housings, lifting sands, and making fish enclosures. “Rivers are like vein, which keep us alive”. The next generation will curse us if we fail to protect them, he said.
He said there is a taskforce on rivers but it is never seen active. It is people who can save the rivers by raising their voices and the media has a role to play to inspire people, he added.