The National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) started its journey Wednesday with an aim to save the rivers from pollution and encroachment.
It will also coordinate the activities of different ministries and departments and provide suggestions for protecting the rivers as well ensuring multi-dimensional uses of rivers for socio-economic development of the country.
The government has passed the NRCC Act 2013 in parliament last year with an aim to save the rivers from pollution and illegal possession that have posed a serious threat to the socio-economic life of the country.
"Those who destroy and kill the rivers through pollution and encroachment are the 'razakars' (collaborators) of the present era," Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said while inaugurating the office of NRCC at Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) tower in the capital on the day.
Mentioning the government efforts for evicting illegal possessions on the river banks the minister said a total of 3,500 illegal structures were evicted during the previous tenure of Awami League government.
"We built walkways on the banks of the river to prevent further encroachment," he said, adding that the government has sealed the origin points that release solid wastes to make the river free from pollution.
The shipping minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has initiated the move to save the rivers from pollution and encroachment.
He called upon the environmental organisations to give their suggestions to the government for achieving the goal.
He said the four-party alliance government led by BNP had encouraged river pollution and encroachment.
Mr Khan said the government was pledge-bound to save all the rivers in the country. In this connection he laid emphasis on creating mass awareness to keep the river Buriganga and other rivers free from pollution.
He called upon all to come forward with a common goal to save the rivers from pollution and encroachment.
The shipping minister warned of stern action under law against those trying to grab land on the river banks. He disclosed that the government has formed a task force to protect all the rivers and keep those free from pollution.
He said, "Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us independence. And the maritime boundary victory with the neighbouring countries under the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a big achievement."
