Baral river dying due to unplanned govt structures

Unplanned structures constructed by Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) under government projects have narrowed down the Baral river and blocked its water supply, alleged two lawmakers at a press conference yesterday.
The Baral river originates from the confluence of the Padma river in Charghat area of Rajshahi district and flows through a good number of upazilas of Rajshahi, Natore, Pabna and Sirajganj districts.
The lawmakers -- Principal Abdul Kuddus of Natore-4 constituency and Sharier Alam of Rajshahi-6 constituency -- demanded that the government conducts capital dredging on the river to ensure the river's navigability.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised the press conference in Jatiya Press Club in the capital demanding removal of the structures from the Baral river.
Save Baral Movement Convener Gour Chandra Sarkar presided over the programme.
The Baral river, the main feeder of Chalan Beel, the biggest wetland in the country's northern region, is now drying up. This is a threat to the livelihoods of the thousands of people who inhabit the areas surrounding the river, said the speakers.
The speakers said engineers of BWDB constructed a sluice gate in the mouth of the river at Charghat in 1985, closing the river's major source of water.
Later some other structures, including dams and small culverts, were erected, shrinking the river even more and nearly changing the ecology of a vast area adjoining the river, they said.
“The engineers of BWDB acted most irresponsibly by killing the Baral river in the name of development works without considering the impacts those might cause,” said Principal Abdul Kuddus.
Sharier Alam said the Ministry of Water Resources did not take any effective steps to assess the effects of the structures, frustrating the inhabitants.
“We have to save the Baral river at any cost,” he said.
The speakers announced to form a 220-kilometre human chain along the river's bank, from Charghat to Baghabari of Sirajganj, on March 14 next year.
Bapa Secretary General Abdul Matin and Save Baral Movement Secretary General Mizanur Rahman also spoke at the press conference.