'Raise voice to save Buriganga from encroachers'

The seminar on the 'Role of local inhabitants in retrieving Buriganga' was organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Batikram Manob Kolyan Sangstha at Maulavibazar Community Centre in the city.

Speaking as chief guest at the seminar, Bapa President Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said the voice of the local people must be raised to revive the tradition and heritage of the river.

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He said different environmental and development organisations including members of the civil society have been trying for long to save the Buriganga.

The government also took some measures to demolish more than 700 illegal structures on the riverbanks, but these have failed to yield the desired results. Many of them have again returned to their previous places, he added.

Prof Muzaffar said the taskforce of the land ministry has also failed to prepare original map of the Buriganga even two years after its formation.

Unless the local people are aware of their problems, the movement to 'Save Buriganga' would not be successful, said Engineer Masrurul Huq of Bapa.

Eight lawmakers of Dhaka should be the key persons to save the river, but in contrast, some of them are allegedly encroaching the riverbank and constructing buildings there, he said.

As a result, others are also encouraged to re-encroach the riverbank, he added.

Prof Dr Rezwan Hasan Bhuiyan said hundreds of buildings and shopping complexes were built along the bank of the river due to tremendous pressure of population.

So it is not possible to revive the river today according to the original map, we should make practical demands to the government, he noted.

Prof Hasan of Dhaka University said the rivers and canals flowing in and around the capital must be saved and their navigability will have to be ensured through proper dredging to protect its environment.

Poet Asad Chowdhury in his speech reminisced his boyhood with the Buriganga and assured that he would take part in any movement to save the river.

The seminar resolved that the local people would form a committee to create continuous pressure on the government to take necessary measures to save the river and the environment of the capital.