Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan said on Wednesday the government would not bow its head to the river encroachers, no matter how tough the task is, reports UNB.
"The government is sincere about protecting the rivers and will put its best efforts to stop river encroachment and pollution not only in Dhaka and its surrounding, but also across other parts of the country," the minister made the comments while speaking at a seminar organised by National River Protection Commission (NRPC) at Gonopurta Bhaban in the city.
Chaired by NRPC chairman M Ataharul Islam, the discussion was addressed, among others, by additional secretary of Shipping Ministry M Rafiqul Islam, executive director of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) M Waji Ullah and NRPC member M Alauddin.
The Shipping Minister said the government has taken a mega plan involving Tk 114.70 billion (11,470 crore) to dredge rivers for maintaining the navigability of 53 river routes while dredging work of 24 routes have already started.
The Shipping Minister said: "We've taken many initiatives to resist river encroachment and water pollution. The mouth of the Buriganga has been blocked to a great extent due to the direct waste disposal of Mitford Hospital and the fruit waste disposal of Waizghat."
Executive director of Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) Prof M Monowar Hossain and chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Commodore Muhammad Mozammel Haque presented separate papers at the seminar.
Shipping Minister talks tough against river encroachers
FE Team | Published: June 18, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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