One of the biggest unfortunate realities of our nation is just how badly we continue to fail our rivers.
For decades, authorities and policy-makers alike have failed to prioritize our rivers and provide them with the protection they deserve, especially considering the pivotal role that our rivers have played in the early development of our country.
Beyond the well-established point that river pollution and encroachment continue unabated, what is equally detrimental towards the preservation of our rivers is the fact that we lack reliable data to even begin to comprehend the damage that has been done to our rivers over the years.
Bangladesh has all the necessary laws in place to protect its rivers, but, as has become a part of culture, the impunity enjoyed by those destroying our rivers unfortunately make these laws meaningless. Which leads to the unchecked encroachment and pollution that these water-bodies undergo on an alarmingly frequent basis.
When it comes to the ceaseless pollution of our rivers, the main culprit has been the multiple industries situated on the banks of rivers, which have historically considered the water-bodies as nothing more than a dumping ground for the toxic waste they produce.
There are few things as tragic as the corruption and greed of a few vested quarters getting in the way of what is essentially an inextricable part of our national identity.
With our waterways being a key natural resource, crucial for the sustenance of our various ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people, we must ensure that we do everything in our power to not bring our dying rivers back to life but to, once again, make them as important to our development plans as they once were.
