Save Meghna from encroachment

Environmentalists urge govt

21 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan froms a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday demanding steps to make the river Meghna free from encroachment.Photo: STAR

An environmental group yesterday demanded that the government make the river Meghna in Ashuganj free from encroachment. The leaders of the Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa) also called for drawing boundaries of all rivers across the country and punishing the encroachers. Speaking at a citizens' rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city, they said the prime minister is very much sincere to free all the rivers from the encroachment, but her party men are encroaching those. Bapa President ASM Shahjahan said encroachment is the main cause of destruction of the rivers. If encroachment continues, around 230 rivers across the country will disappear, he added. “The trend of encroachment is surely a threat to the very existence of riverine Bangladesh,” said Shahjahan, also a former adviser to caretaker government. Quoting from a report published in a daily newspaper, Bapa General Secretary Dr Md Abdul Matin said the Meghna was encroached near Ashuganj of Brahmanbaria where around 400 feet of the river was filled with earth. Prof Kazi Saleh Ahmed, vice-president of the organisation, said due to the earth filling, the Meghna will change its way and three villages on the other side will be in threat of river erosion.