DHAKA, Sept 5, 2024 (BSS)-Water Resources and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has directed the concerned departments to formulate an action plan with a target to make the country’s rivers pollution and encroachment free within next two months.

“Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), BIWTA, National River Conservation Commission and Divisional Commissioners have been asked to formulate a time-bound, cost-effective action plan in line with the apex court directives after enlisting all the rivers within next two months aiming to make it pollution and illegal encroachment free”, she said.

The water resources advisor’s instructions came following a virtual inter-ministerial meeting titled “determining the actual number of rivers in Bangladesh and ensuring protection of endangered rivers from encroachment and pollution” held here last night.

She mentioned that 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 river eviction.

Conducted by Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan, the meeting also was addressed, among others, by Brigadier General (Retd.) M. Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the ministry of Shipping and 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 all the divisional commissioners.

In the meeting, the Water Resources Advisor instructed the Department of Environment to 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.

The Environment Advisor stated that BIWTA will hold discussions with experts regarding the current status and feasibility of the Dhaka Circular Waterway proposal.

The relevant ministries will regularly review the progress of implementing these directives. In compliance with the court orders, the amendment proposal for the National River Conservation Commission Act will be finalized within three months, with a committee being formed for this purpose. Opinions must be gathered on the cost and impact of ongoing and implemented river dredging projects.

During the meeting, the Shipping Advisor instructed the Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to remove illegal encroachments from the important rivers like Kirtonkhola and Rupsha.

He also mentioned that a joint campaign with the ministry of environment would be launched to stop illegal polythene bags and promote the use of eco-friendly jute bags.

It is noteworthy that discrepancies have been observed in the total number of rivers in the country, as measured by the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the National River Conservation Commission, the ministry of shipping, and water experts.

In this context, the meeting decided to prepare an action plan to implement the directives of the Supreme Court's High Court Division in Writ Petition No. 8539/2021.