Govt urged to take action against river polluters

Green activists, noted citizens and affected people have urged the government to take action against river polluters to save the rivers.
They said that a few industrialists in the name of development were polluting the rivers and affecting lives and livelihood of millions of people on the river banks and adjacent areas.
They called upon the government and people of all walks of life to stand united against the river encroachers and polluters to save the rivers for the benefits of the future generation.
They made their remarks while speaking at a citizens’ meeting on the bank of Buriganga adjacent to Bosila Old Government Primary School on Thursday.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, Buriganga Riverkeepers and Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association organised the meeting in cooperation with Bangladesh Bank.
BELA executive director Syeda Rezwana Hasan said that the government did not take action against the polluters who were destroying rivers, waters and environment.
Rather, she said that due to ‘serious faulty finance policy’ the polluters were getting financial supports from the banks to make more profits by risking lives of the thousands of affected people.
‘The government should make a cost-benefit analysis before granting loans to them,’ she said.
Educationist and social activist Rasheda K. Choudhury said that without considering affected people, the government was saving the polluters of Buriganga.
Referring to a recent study, she said that about 25 per cent children in the capital city were being affected with different diseases due to polluted air and water.
After doing a cost-benefit analysis, the government should take action, she said.
Presiding over the meeting, BAPA vice-president Sultana Kamal said that some profit-mongers were responsible in polluting the rivers and they should be made accountable.
No development can take place without saving rivers and natural resources, she said.
She described rivers as identity of the countrymen and said that all rivers must be protected to save the country and its people.
Gedu boatman who runs boat across Buriganga for few decades said that water of Buriganga was once well and there were huge fishes in the river.
Due to pollution, the water became poisonous and creates diseases on bodies, he said.
He urged the prime minister to take action to save the river.
Manik Bepari, a resident on the bank of Buriganga and chairman of Bosila Old Government Primary School managing committee, said that he had seen water of Buriganga good in 1995, but after that the tannery wastes contaminated its water.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net