Condition of rivers as well as the coastal people in the country is getting terrible gradually, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.
Despite being a riverine country with the highest length of river network in the world, Bangladesh is devoid of long-term strategies and laws pertaining to river, they said. The seminar organised by ActionAid was held at Shishu Academy in the capital.
Keynote speaker Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, a professor at Dhaka University, said negligence in river management not only made some people refugees in their own country but also adversely affected the coastal people’s culture, education and professions.
“People affected by riverbank erosion move to the capital where they actually become a burden. Some of those who choose to stay in the coastal regions become bandits. This paints a bleak picture if one thinks in terms of development,” he said.
Chairman of the Water and Environment Institute M Inamul Haque said the natural flow of rivers was obstructed as “India is constructing more and more dams to have their own needs served.”
General Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon Abdul Matin said when India is set to build 16 more dams, the Bangladesh government keeps mum on this.
Water Resources Minister Anisul Haque Mahmud refuted the allegation. “We are continuously communicating with Indian officials regarding the issue.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid, said the organisation would would help the government regarding river issues by carrying out research and awareness programmes.