BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Adviser to the Prime Minister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that the devastating floods in different parts of the country, along with the resulting loss of life, were the outcome of ‘unplanned development and environmentally damaging infrastructure projects’ carried out during the Awami League (AL) government's tenure, reports UNB.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Monday, Rizvi said the previous AL government's development approach ignored environmental realities and natural water flow, leading to recurring natural disasters.0
"The deaths caused by the floods are the consequence of the Awami League government's unplanned development and poor management. By obstructing the natural flow of rivers in the name of development projects, it created the severe flood situation now affecting different parts of the country," he said.
Rizvi said all development projects should take into account climate-related concerns, environmental impacts, and their potential effects on rivers, canals, wetlands and other natural water bodies.
Rizvi said a democratic and accountable government would assess whether development projects could trigger natural disasters, worsen waterlogging or contribute to severe droughts. However, he alleged that the previous Awami League government failed to do so because it was preoccupied with looting public funds and facilitating money laundering.
"The previous government spoke about development, but their development was aimed at looting and siphoning off money. They never considered what could cause natural disasters, how people could become trapped in waterlogging, or how the country could face devastating drought," he said.
Referring to infrastructure built in the haor region, Rizvi criticised the construction of roads through wetlands, including a road built through a haor to facilitate access to the residence of former President Abdul Hamid.
He said such projects have contributed to untimely floods, crop losses and widespread suffering.
He alleged that during its nearly 17 years in power, the Awami League government pursued such projects primarily to benefit party-linked contractors and enrich its leaders.
He also criticised the establishment of the Rampal coal-fired power plant, saying environmental experts had repeatedly warned that it could damage the Sundarbans, which he described as the country's principal natural source of oxygen.
"Experts repeatedly warned that coal-based power generation there would damage the Sundarbans. But the fascist government ignored those warnings to satisfy a particular foreign country," he alleged.
He added that reports now indicate the Sundarbans is under environmental stress and that many species of birds, wildlife and plants are disappearing.
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