DHAKA, Sept 21, 2024 (BSS) - Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources today stressed the importance of protecting the country's rivers and recovering those from encroachers.

“Laws would be enforced strictly in protecting the country’s rivers,” she said adding that cooperation from public is critical to this end.

The water resources adviser made the remarks while speaking at a special event at Bangladesh Tourism Corporation here marking the World Rivers Day-2024 and handing over the River Award-2024 to the recipients.

Addressing the function, Rizwana mentioned that cost-effective plans would be developed to restore the rivers and a campaign against polythene and plastic would be launched soon to protect environment.

“Rivers are not only natural resources but also deeply connected to our culture and livelihoods," she said while highlighting the importance on pollution-free rivers aimed at ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

In this connection, Rezwana urged all to work together to protect and clean the rivers.

At the event, three individuals were honored with the Mark Angelo River Award- 2024 for their significant contributions to river conservation.

This year, in the individual category, Mukit Majumdar Babu, Chairman of Prakriti O Jibon Foundation, received the award.

In the research category, Mohammad Ejaz, Chairman of the River and Delta Research Center, was recognized. In journalism category, Iftekhar Mahmud, Special Correspondent of Prothom Alo, was honoured with this award.

Presided over by Muhammad Monir Hossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh River Foundation, the event was addressed, among others, by Nayoka Martinez Backström, First Secretary for Environment and Climate Change at the Swedish Embassy, Prof. Dr. Abdur Rab Molla, Chairman of Nature Conservation Management, Prof. Dr. Md. Manzurul Kibria, Coordinator of Halda River Research Laboratory; Eng. Md. Habibur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Nodi Poribrajak Dal, H.M. Sumon, Chairman of the Environment and River Conservation Development Foundation, Sheikh Didarul Islam Chowdhury, Secretary of Karnafuli Protection Council and AKM Arif Uddin, Director of BIWTA.

A documentary on the rivers of Bangladesh was also screened at the event. Environmentalists, academicians and members of civil society were present, among others.