RAJSHAHI, Oct 21 (BSS): Speakers at a discussion here today stressed the need for protection of the rivers and their tributaries for the sake of ensuring sound ecosystem and biodiversity.
They viewed most of the cities and towns were built based on the rivers along with its resources. Besides, the agro-based economy, civilization and present farming system of the country are dependent on river water.
But, present condition of the big and small rivers have become vulnerable due to various natural and manmade catastrophes which is detrimental to the whole ecosystem coupled with living and livelihood condition of the human being.
So, there is no alternative to effective measures of protecting the rivers and other water bodies, they added.
The observation came at a seminar styled "Water Resource and Transponder rivers" held at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Barendra Unnayan Prochesta (BUP) and Sachetan Rajshahi jointly organized the event in association with Actioniad Bangladesh and some other development organizations.
Panel Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation Anwarul Amin Ajob addressed the discussion as chief guest with Hasinul Islam Chunnu, Executive Director of Sachetan, in the chair.
Foyzullah Chowdhury, Director of BUP, gave an overview of the seminar and its topic.
Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Pro-Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University, mentioned that the country's rivers especially the major ones like Padma and Brahmapurta are facing crises of existence which isn't the good sign for the nation.
He said the climate change is also posing a serious threat to the rivers and the biodiversity. Prof Chowdhury said Bangladesh along with its neighboring countries, India and Nepal, should work together and devise ways and means on how to protect the transboundary rivers. "We have no way but to conserve and preserve the river waters for enriching the surface water resources for irrigation purposes," he added.
