Speakers at a discussion yesterday called on all to stand united against those who are encroaching on and polluting the Buriganga river violating laws and court directives.
They made the call at the discussion titled “We want the Buriganga to be free from pollution and swimmable all the year round”, marking WaterKeeper Swimmable Water Weekend 2014 in the city, according to a press release.
The Buriganga Keeper, an organisation that fights against the pollution in the lifeline of capital Dhaka organised the event on the premises of Basila Old Government Primary School situated alongside the river.
Former Caretaker Government Adviser Sultana Kamal, who presided over the discussion, said: Those of us live alongside the river must work as its keepers together and keep it swimmable all the year round.
“Because if a river is destroyed, nothing like civilisation and life can be saved.”
Another former Caretaker Government Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said: “Our children now feast their eyes on the rivers by watching them on the computers. They learn how to swim in the swimming pool, which cuts us to the quick.”
She called for fast-tracking the prime minister’s recent directives in preserving the river navigability.
BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, BAPA Joint General Secretary Shahjahan Mridha Benu, former captain of the National Cricket Team Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, actor Hasan Masood and freedom fighter Sultan Ahmed Tipu, among others, spoke at the discussion.