The Information Department has revealed that former Minister of Social Welfare Dr Dipu Moni led a syndicate of 256 Awami League-affiliated members involved in sand extraction and stone mining from 77 rivers at 176 locations daily.
It was mentioned that Dr Moni alone collected Tk6 to 7 lakh as bribes, and the mafia extorts approximately Tk1.25crore daily, totaling around Tk27.77 crore. This operation continues unabated.
These claims were made by Mohammad Azaz during a discussion titled "Rivers under the Grip of Fascism," organized jointly by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) and the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) at PIB's auditorium on Tuesday.
During the event, PIB Director General Faruk Wasif chaired the meeting, with Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar as the chief guest, and Information Ministry Adviser Nahid Islam as a special guest.
Several journalists and activists involved in river protection shared their experiences.
Azaz said: "From the beginning, all politics in Bangladesh has been river-centric. Over the last 15 years, in the name of economic development, industries, power projects, land businesses, and sand extraction have taken place along riverbanks. As a result, 56 rivers in Bangladesh are now victims of occupation and pollution, meaning much of the country is contaminated."
"Currently, there are about 10,000 trucks operating on the Someshwari River, controlled by local leaders of Secchasebok League. Sand extraction and stone mining activities are still ongoing. In the Patuakhali region, fishermen need to pay between Tk25,000 to 20,000 annually to catch fish in the river. Across Bangladesh, bribes from ghats amount to about Tk10 crore daily, controlled by various individuals including Haji Selim in Dhaka, Chairman Shahin in Keraniganj, and others in Narayanganj, Chittagong, Noakhali, and Cox's Bazar."
He added: "When we were discussing the water treaty with India regarding the Feni River, the murder of Abrar Fahad sent us a message to refrain from talking about water treaties and other issues with India. The Delta Plan was marred by corruption under then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."
Fisheries Adviser Farida Akhtar said that the new constitution should include provisions for the protection of rivers and natural resources.
She added: "If rivers could change color, their waters would be as red as blood. Those who harm rivers should be brought to justice. We must remember that while the faces of fascism may change, fascism itself has not entirely disappeared; it requires time to be eradicated."
Special guest Nahid Islam noted: "The politics of the future will be river-centric. We need to focus on water distribution treaties and river-related issues moving forward. The current fascist government has occupied rivers in the name of development. We need discussions and further research to break free from the policies and politics that have prevailed. Long-term and short-term measures regarding the environment, rivers, and nature are essential."
In his remarks, PIB Director General Faruk Wasif emphasized the need for collective efforts to protect rivers in Bangladesh, calling for unity in this cause.
