Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has directed the authorities concerned to make a list of the exact number of rivers in the country within the next two months.
"The jointly prepared list must be published on the website to allow public opinions and objections. Any objections must be addressed through hearings where necessary. She also directed the authorities to identify at least one river in each of the 64 districts and prepare a time-bound, cost-effective action plan within the next two months to evict illegal encroachments and later conduct coordinated operations for evicting grabbers from the rivers," she said at a virtual meeting on Wednesday, officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the National River Conservation Commission were present.
She also instructed the deputy commissioners and district administrators to clear illegal encroachments from key rivers such as the Kirtonkhola and Rupsa.
In the meeting, the Water Resources Advisor emphasized that the Department of Environment will prepare a list of the most polluted rivers and identify the individuals or institutions responsible for the pollution, ensuring regular monitoring and operations to control it. The Department will also prepare a 'Health Card' for each river, reflecting the river's vitality. To carry out operations and prevent future encroachments and pollution, local residents, the younger generation, social organizations, and NGOs must be involved and given monitoring responsibilities. A ban on using plastic water bottles, folders, and banners in all offices should also be initiated.
BIWTA will consult with experts regarding the latest status and feasibility of the Dhaka Circular Waterway proposal. The relevant ministries will regularly review the progress of implementing the above directives, she said.
Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, as well as Secretaries from the Environment, Land, and Shipping Ministries, Chairman of BIWTA, Director Generals of the Department of Environment and the Directorate of Land Records and Survey, representatives of the National River Conservation Commission, and Divisional Commissioners also spoke.
