Save rivers, save environment!

It is indeed alarming to see the way the river banks are being grabbed and rivers polluted indiscriminately. We are totally unaware about the disastrous consequences we are inviting unknowingly by creating havoc on Nature. Very often we see the roads of Dhaka city go under water after a little rain as we have destroyed the waterways of the city and with each passing day we are killing more water bodies. We have to free our rivers from all kinds of encroachment and punish those who are involved in these activities. The river Buriganga is dying a pitiable death and if drastic action is not taken soon it will go extinct. I remember the boat rides on the Buriganga during my childhood and at that time its water was fresh and sparklingly clean but now it is dark and stinking.

Rivers are our lifelines and we must protect them at any cost. If the government wants to clear all illegal encroachments, they can do it within a short time and to do so, the only requirement is political will.

Many ruling party leaders are alleged to be directly or indirectly involved in river grabbing. If the government can take care of them, the rest of the illegal grabbers will simply run for their life.

Mohammad Fahim