Indiscriminate grabbing of rivers, khals, and other water bodies has resulted in a startling loss of natural resources, exacerbating frequent flooding and alarming environmental degradation.
Despite a strong slogan “NodiBachleDeshBachbe (If rivers are alive, the country will be alive)” presented by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2019, efforts to protect these rivers have floundered.
Mohammad Ezaz, Chairman of the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), stated, “A post-liberation survey found the existence of 1,274 rivers in the country. However, last month’s report from the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) showed just 907. That means 367 rivers have been grabbed and are now nonexistent.”
In Gournadi in Barishal, the banks of the Palardi river have been usurped, with hundreds of shops and commercial establishments now standing where the river once flowed.
Despite a list of 57,000 individuals and organisations implicated in river grabbing being released by the NRCC in 2018, the problem has escalated. According to Ezaz, “Incidences of encroachment on rivers have increased, necessitating an updated list of grabbers.”
When questioned about the leasing of the Garadaho river bank, Mahbubur Rahman, executive engineer of the Water Development Board, acknowledged ignorance and assured that appropriate steps would be taken after an investigation into the grabbing.
While the government’s 2019 initiative aimed at safeguarding rivers has lost momentum, the escalating crisis makes it abundantly clear that immediate and decisive action is required. As rivers stand on the brink of extinction, this situation is more than an environmental disaster; it is a ticking time bomb with vast economic, social, and ecological implications.
The voice of Mohammad Ezaz resonates more than ever: immediate action is necessary. The life of the rivers is, after all, intrinsically tied to the life of the country. If the rivers die, what becomes of the nation?
New revelations indicate that influential politicians and businessmen are among those actively participating in river grabbing.
Meanwhile, FarhadHossainMunshi, the son of Dal Mill owner KhalekMunshi, admitted that a portion of their mill land does indeed belong to the river.
Such blatant disregard for the law doesn’t stop here. The Khakdon river in Barguna has suffered a similar fate. Instead of taking action, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) has allegedly leased out the river banks to the encroachers. The Bishkhali river in Patharghata and Bamnaupazilas has been converted into brickfields, further exacerbating the environmental crisis.
Between February 2019 and June 2021, a total of 2,475 illegal structures were removed from the banks of the Shitalakhya river. However, the drive came to a halt due to the absence of a Magistrate. With the appointment of a new Magistrate in March 2023, over 700 establishments have been evicted, though the problem persists owing to irregular drives.
Similarly, in Bogura, residential and commercial establishments litter the banks of the Korotoa river. Despite the ongoing construction of high-rise buildings at 28 different spots, local administration remains conspicuously silent. Bogura Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said, “The district administration has prepared a list of grabbers to take necessary action.”
National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) emphasised the dire need to protect rivers and restore their navigability to bolster the agro-based rural economy. Chairman Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury lamented the continuous encroachment due to “unseen power of the grabbers, insincerity of some officials, and attacks on eviction teams.”
Chowdhury also highlighted that some government organisations are complicit in river grabbing, and the NRCC lacks the authority to take action against them.
News link: Over 500 rivers on verge of extinction (daily-sun.com)