PM urges all to stop dumping waste into rivers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today
requested all not to dump waste in the rivers to protect river pollution as
part of the efforts to make water as blessing.

“I request all to stop dumping waste in the rivers to protect those from
pollution,” she said inaugurating the ‘World Water Day-2019’ programme at
Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here in the capital.

The premier asked members of the committee formed for recovering
riverbanks from illegal occupation to take effective measures as none can
dump waste in the rivers.

She also requested industries not to pollute water, saying, “All mills
and factories must have waste management system and water treatment plant to
save the rivers from pollution.”

Sheikh Hasina also asked the people not to throw wastes here and there
while moving along the roads and rivers.

Referring to severe river pollution particularly in the Buriganga, the
premier said, “Nowadays, a bad smell is coming from the river water,” posing
a question, “Why such bad smell comes from the river.”

Rivers are asset for us, she mentioned.

Describing waste management as a global issue, she said, “Seas are badly
affected due to dumping waste by the ships. Waste has been seen in many
seas.”

State Minister of Water Resources Zaheed Farooque, MP, presided over the
function organized by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee Ramesh Chandra Sen and
Deputy Minister AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem also spoke on the occasion while
Secretary of the ministry Kabir Bin Anwar gave welcome address.

Two separate video documentaries, one on water management and another on
Delta Plan-2100 were screened at the function.

World Water Day is being celebrated every year on March 22 since 1993 in
the country as elsewhere in the globe, with a view to bringing attention to
importance of freshwater and advocating the sustainable management of
freshwater resources.

The theme of this year’s World Water Day is “Leaving No One Behind”
which is also the main theme of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

The premier highlighted importance of river dredging, strengthening
coastal embankments, addressing climate change, maintaining connectivity
between the river and floodplain, creating buffer zone along riverbank for
the protection of environment and ecosystem.

“We have to take such measures as the normal flow of water remains intact
during the lean period, Chaitra to Baishakh, to preserve excessive waters
coming from upstream during the rainy season,” she said.

The premier said rivers, canals, haors and baors were natural water
reservoirs, which should be maintained for the ecosystem.

She stressed the need for taking effective measures to protect the water
reservoirs to ensure adequate water in the lean period.

Terming sunken char land under the rivers as one of the main reason for
river erosion, the premier asked the authorities concerned to find out those
and dig those deep.

She also laid emphasis on preserving rain water and expected the country
to export fresh water in the days to come.

The premier said her government took measures to make water as blessings
though at times it appears as a curse destroying livelihoods.

She urged all concerned to find the ways for effectively fighting the
natural calamities.

She said her government took initiatives to establish an international
standard water resource training and research institute under the Ministry of
Water Resources.

The premier said only establishment of embankment can’t protect rivers
from erosion and asked the concerned authorities to make greenbelt along the
rivers planting trees.

She recalled Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had
collected seven dredgers to dredge rivers while assuming power in 1996 Awami
League government managed some more dredgers.

Now, she said, the government is going to collect 80 more dredgers.

Currently Water Resources Ministry has 22 dredgers and shipping ministry
and navy have 44 others.