Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser for the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on Monday said directives have been given to deputy commissioners to take legal action against river encroachers.
"There is list of river grabbers now and actions will be taken accordingly," she said while briefing reporters after inspecting the erosion-prone areas of the Gomti River, which was recently affected by floods in Burichong in Comilla.
Water Development Board has informed that the repair of the broken dam on the Gomti River will be possible within the next two to three months. As the monsoon is nearing its end, the risk of new flooding is minimal. Overall, the work to repair the Gomti dam is expected to be completed by December, said the adviser.
It is noted that the repair work on the damaged section of the dam has begun long after the flooding had receded. However, the exact timeline for the completion of this work has not been clearly communicated.
Additionally, Advisor Syeda Rizwaana Hasan stated that divisional commissioners have been instructed to develop an action plan within two months to free 66,000 identified encroachers from rivers and waterways across the country.
She directed district administrators to initiate eviction actions against encroachers on rivers, canals, and wetlands through strict legal measures. The administration has also been instructed to take stern actions against those illegally cutting riverbanks and extracting sand.
With the cooperation of the common peoples, she said, it will be possible to recover rivers, canals, and water bodies.
The water resources adviser said flood and rainfall data will be sought from India.
She said discussions may take place over water sharing of common rivers but India should inform lower riparian Bangladesh once it opens the gates of dams.
Rizwana noted that multilateral discussions would also be initiated involving other countries having basins of common rivers apart from India.
The secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, the director general of the Water Development Board, officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh Water Development Board, as well as people from various professions, were present.