Volleying back....

Readers' instant comments on The Daily Star Online reports. Log on to thedailystar.net to leave your comments.
Turag almost grabbed
River grabbers back after 2 years of hibernation (May 21, 2009)
Once the only problem was 'river pollution' but now 'grabbing the rivers' is also a big setback for our nature and ecosystem.
Defaulters are getting support and showing off the thumb to citizens and the law. Without further delay, the government should take prompt and legal action against the so-called 'owners of rivers'. Common people, as well as the media, should raise their voices against the grabbers.
Md. Sadikur Rahman

I really appreciate the endeavour of The Daily Star in focusing on river encroachment and pollution.
Citizens of Dhaka are highly concerned about the dying rivers and water pollution for which they are suffering.
Kushal Das

It is unfortunate to see the greedy land grabbers destroying our rivers. This has been going on for many years - every government played an ineffectual role!
James
While we cry for saving our nature, at the same time we play some filthy games for making financial gains.
We have a government, we have law-enforcing agencies. We hope they would take stern actions to recover the land immediately and save the country from desertification.
Nasarullah

I believe people will support the government, regardless of political loyalty, when it takes the initiative to save our rivers from illegal occupation. The govt. should show some courage!
Muhammad Hasan

This is yet another ecological disaster in the making for Bangladesh.
As for public awareness: large posters saying 'SAVE OUR RIVERS' could be displayed.
Mohammad A. Hafeez

We urge the government to take two steps immediately: 1) Take the initiative to clean up and restore the four rivers with the help of the latest technology (India, China, France have cleaned up many of their rivers using these technologies); 2) Bring the polluters to justice. Incidentally, our expertise can provide the clean-up and restoration services for all four rivers, if the authorities wish to do so. If they want, we can submit a comprehensive proposal with solutions.
Ehsanul Karim

We must resist the encroachers. A section of people only blame India for the death of our waterways. We demand immediate action to stop the grabbers.
M. Ali

The proverb in Bangla 'Rokkhok e bhokkhok' applies to all the governments, including the present one. If it is the people's government, it should immediately start working on navigation and width recovery, alongside making concrete embankments like the century old Buckland Dam. The RCC embankment will also protect the river from losing its width and will be permanent like we see in many European and North American countries.
Sohel Ahmed

I do not think the AL government or the members of parliament have any understanding of environmental issues.
Shaheen

The rivers surrounding Dhaka are mostly dead. We would like to see proper action being taken by the authorities to revive the rivers. Before doing that, the government needs to take a political decision. Because in most of the cases, land grabbers rely on political links.
Abu Naser Manik

The leaders should come to the realization that they also have a stake in saving these rivers. I hope that The Daily Star will continue to publish these reports. I believe that it is helping the cause by raising awareness, and now we need to come forward to save these rivers.
Shahriar Ahmed