Rivers across country facing threats to dying: Anisul

Ecological balance will be endangered greatly, if rivers across the country continue to be grabbed and polluted, said Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud, reports BSS.

"Rivers across the country are facing a threat to dying.... Illegal grabbing and human induced pollution are contributing to dying of rivers, which may create a catastrophic situation," he told a discussion titled 'Threats to natural resources: Our position' in the city on Sunday.

Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) and Forest Department jointly organised the discussion on the occasion of the World Environment Day.

Water Resources Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, renowned hydrologist Dr Ainun Nishat, Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to Bangladesh Mike Robson and Deputy Executive Director of CEGIS Dr Mominul Haque Sarkar, among others, addressed the discussion with Chief Conservator of Forests Md Yunus Ali in the chair.

Executive Director of CEGIS Engr Md Waji Ullah presented the keynote paper titled 'Threats to natural resources: Our position' at the discussion. Rivers around Dhaka city particularly Buriganga are being grabbed and polluted rampantly, Anisul said adding water bodies are also being filled for human purposes and there are loopholes in the Detailed Area Plan, which cause shrinking of water bodies.

"We have adequate laws and these should be implemented strictly to protect our rivers from encroachment and all sorts of human induced pollution," he added.

Anisul said the government is giving top priority to the construction of the Ganges barrage, which would ensure adequate water flows during the dry season and feed many rivers in southern Bangladesh during the winter and play an important role in controlling salinity.