Speakers at a roundtable yesterday said the rivers around the capital were almost dead because of unabated encroachment and establishment of illegal construction on the river bank.
They also demanded that the government take immediate steps to protect all rivers including the Buriganga around Dhaka as it was important for the country’s economy.
The speakers made the demand at a roundtable organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) marking the World Water Day at the National Press Club in the capital.
They said it was high time the government demarcated the rivers in the country as per the Cadastral Survey record to protect the water bodies from pollution.
The discussants also called upon the government to dredge the rivers regularly and remove all illegal establishments from the river banks.
They also demanded that the government relocate tanneries and take measures to stop dumping waste into the rivers. Poba examined the pollution of Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkha rivers over the past one year.
In August-September, the level of oxygen in these rivers’ water was zero because of dumping of waste from industries, houses and launches.
The pro-environment group observed that the rivers around Dhaka were almost dead for illegal establishments and encroachment.
It also underscored the need for immediate steps by the government to protect the rivers across the country.
Poba Joint General Secretary Md Abdus Sobhan said if the government did not take initiative to protect rivers, the water bodies around the capital and other places would die down.
Rajuk Executive Magistrate Rokon-Ud-Dowla said the city development authority removed all illegal establishments from the Buriganga river bank regularly.
Nagorik Oikko Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna urged the government to take immediate steps to protect all rivers in the country.