DHAKA, Oct 29, 2024 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said the provision of protecting natural resources like rivers should be incorporated in the constitution. 

"Fascists should be tried also for killing rivers as they destroyed democracy and environment in the name of development. Killing of river is tantamount to mass killing. Our mass uprising has been a success, but now we'll have to save our rivers," she said.

The adviser was addressing a report publication and seminar titled "Rivers under Fascism" at the auditorium of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in the city.

PIB and River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC) jointly arranged the function to focus on the damages of the country's rivers in the last 15 years during the Awami League's regime.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam addressed the programme as special guest with PIB DG Faruk Wasif in the chair. RDRC chairman Mohammad Azaz presented the keynote paper in the programme.

Farida said the fascist government has used the river for unethical practices. Bodies of people sent to forced disappearance were also found floating in river water, she added.

She said due to illegal land encroachment the natural water flow reduced in rivers, leading to destroying the river ecosystem.

Farida Akhter said they (AL government) destroyed democracy and the environment in the name of development.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam said the country's nature and rivers were damaged due to fascist development policy and politics.

The previous fascist government intervened in every sector shamelessly encouraging infinite corruption, he said. 

The information adviser said the government will have to adopt national policy over rivers, agriculture and environment. 

He also emphasized on formulation of long-term and short-term plans with consultation in this regard.

Mentioning that four rivers in Dhaka -- Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu and Turag -- have been polluted severely, he laid emphasis on developing effective management policies for rivers to protect them from negative impacts of urbanization.

Nahid said the river grabbers should be resisted and river conservation should be highlighted while formulating future policies. 

He sought cooperation from all to bring the river grabbers to justice.

Journalist Iftekhar Mahmud, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) activist of Cox's Bazar HM Nazrul Islam, Sustainable Energy activist Manik Hossain, Teesta Nadi Rakkha Committee president Faridul Islam and Pashur River Water Keeper president Nur Alam Sheikh, among others, addressed the discussion.