PM orders eviction of illegal structures to protect rivers

BSS, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned specially the BIWTA to take strict measurers to evict illegal structures from the riverside and prevent the grabbers from further occupying those lands in future."The government's programmes to evict illegal structures from riverside would be continued in future to protect the country's rivers," she said and asked the authorities concerned to create mass awareness about the issue. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a seminar organised by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on 'Inland Water Transport: Towards a Change' marking the 50th anniversary of BIWTA at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. Presided over by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, the function was also addressed by acting secretary to Ministry of Shipping M. Masud Elahi and chairman of BIWTA M. Abdul Mannan Hawlader. Sheikh Hasina held dumping of industrial waste into the river mainly responsible for river pollution and directed authorities concerned to compel industrialists for setting up effluents treatment plant at all industrial units with an aim to save rivers from pollution. "Not only Bangladesh, but in the entire world civilization, towns and ports develop centering rivers," she said and regretted that the rivers of the country are being polluted due to a long time negligence of the authorities concerned. Referring to the mega plan of the government to protect the country's rivers, the Prime Minister said along with the development of river routes, the government has a plan to build deep-sea port and improve and modernize the Chittagong and Mongla seaports. Besides, she said steps would be taken to ensure navigability of 110 kilometre river routs in four rivers around the capital city along with preventing pollution aiming at facilitating goods and passengers transport at low cost.In this context, she mentioned her previous Awami League government programmes (from 1996-2001) for development of river routes around the Dhaka city. Calling upon the authorities concerned to implement the government programmes in ensuring navigability of the country's major rivers, she said transparency must have to be ensured in implementing the projects.Sounding a note of caution, the Prime Minister said any irregularities in implementing the pro-people projects would not be tolerated. Referring to the Capital and Maintenance Dredging of the government, the Prime Minister said with implementation of the project it would be possible to recover huge river lands from the grabbers along with ensuring navigability of the country's major rivers.The programmes will also help protect the country's environment after facing the challenges of global warming. Expressing regret over the BIWTA's present dredging capacity, she said it has an ability to conduct dredging only one third of the annual demand due to lack of modern equipment.