CHATTOGRAM, Nov 9, 2022 (BSS)  -  Dr Manzoor Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the National River Protection Commission (NRPC), directed to stop the construction work of Karnaphuli Dry Dock Limited and all the surrounding structures by destroying the mangrove forest of the forest department on the banks of the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram.
 
Manzoor Ahmed, made the direction today as the chief guest, in a review meeting held at Deputy Commissioner (DC) conference room today.
 
DC Mohammad Mominur Rahman presided over the function while Director of Environment Department Chattogram Region Mufidul Alam, Anwara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Zobair Ahmed, high officials of Chattogram District Administration, Bangladesh Police and other senior officers of related departments participated in the meeting.
 
Terming Karnaphuli River is the life line of Bangladesh Dr Manjur Ahmed  said, over 95 percent import-export activities of the country is conducted through this river.
 
He directed to DC Chattogram to submit a report to the River Protection Commission within the next seven days by implementing this directive.
 
“If the flow or navigability of the Karnaphuli river is affected in any way then the economy of Bangladesh will suffer greatly,” he added.
 
Dr Manjur Ahmed  informed the meeting that he visited the Badalpura area of Anwara and some other institutions including Karnaphuli Drydock that have been built next to Bangladesh Marine Academy.
 
“We have visited the site and analyzed various data and found that these institutions have been built completely occupying the river,” he said.
 
He said that an expert team will be formed regarding the Karnaphuli drydock. The team will determine what happened there and how to rescue the river. The construction work of Karnaphuli Dridock will be stopped until the formation of the team and the report of the team is in hand.