English

In riverine Bangladesh, the number of rivers has not yet been accurately determined at the government level. Many rivers have disappeared due to encroachment and pollution, and they are no longer being recorded even on paper, a matter that river researchers and river protection activists have been discussing for a long time.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Advisor on Water Resources and Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, has instructed us to determine the number of rivers in the country within the next two months. According to the advisor's directive, the task will be carried out in coordination with all relevant ministries by the Water Development Board (WDB), the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the River Protection Commission, and the Divisional Commissioner's Offices. The advisor has also instructed the identification and recovery of rivers that are critical, encroached upon, or nearly extinct due to pollution and other threats.

A notice sent by the Water Resources and Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Ministry Thursday informed that Syeda Rizwana Hasan issued this directive during an inter-ministerial meeting held virtually on Wednesday night.

Rizwana Hasan said, "Within the next two months, a time-bound and cost-effective plan should be submitted to identify at least 64 rivers in 64 districts and evict illegal encroachers. The eviction will then be carried out through coordinated operations."

In a meeting chaired by Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Nazmul Ahsan, Advisor M. Sakhawat Hossain of the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Jute and Textiles, the Secretary of the Environment, the Secretary of Land, the Secretary of Shipping, the Chairman of BIWTA, the Director General of the Department of Environment, the Director General of the Department of Land Records and Surveys, representatives from the River Protection Commission, and Divisional Commissioners also delivered speeches.

In the meeting, the Water Resources Advisor stated, "The Department of Environment will compile a list of the country's most polluted rivers and regularly conduct operations and monitoring to control pollution by identifying polluting individuals and organizations. The department will also create a list of rivers affected by plastic pollution and develop an action plan to address this issue. Health cards for all rivers will be prepared by the Department of Environment, representing the rivers' vitality. After conducting the operations, it will be necessary to involve local communities, the younger generation, social organizations, and NGOs in preventing encroachment and pollution and to assign them responsibilities for monitoring."

Issuing instructions to avoid the use of plastics in offices, Rizwana Hasan said, "All offices should start initiatives to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles, plastic folders, and plastic banners." The Environment Advisor also mentioned that BIWTA will hold consultations with experts regarding the latest status and feasibility of the Dhaka Circular Waterway proposal.

Rizwana Hasan has instructed the relevant ministries to regularly review the progress made in implementing these directives. It was stated in the meeting that, as per the court's directive, a committee would be formed to finalize the proposal for amending the River Protection Commission Act within three months. The meeting also saw the Shipping Advisor issuing directives to the Divisional Commissioners and District Administrators to free the banks of important rivers, such as Kirtankhola and Rupsa, from illegal encroachments.