DHAKA, Dec 10, 2024 (BSS) – The government will soon conduct operation to free the Buriganga from pollution during this winter and the shipping ministry will provide all necessary support, including manpower and equipment, to clean the river, which flows past the southwest outskirts of the capital city. 

Disclosing this at a seminar today, Shipping Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr. M Sakhawat Hussain laid emphasis on taking coordinated efforts by ministries concerned to save the country’s rivers from illegal grabbing and pollution.

 “We’ll soon start operation to free the Buriganga from pollution during this winter. The shipping ministry will provide support to conduct the operation. The Buriganga and other big rivers have lost navigability due mainly to grabbing and industrial pollution,” he added.   

He said the people of the country dependent on rivers direct and indirectly, but it is unfortunate that rivers are being grabbed in the name of development. 

“We must free the rivers from encroachment and pollution to save environment,” he said. 

 Ministry of Water Resources, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Muhammad Amirul Haque Bhuiyan, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Water resources secretary Nazmul Ahsan presided over the seminar.