Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan urged mass people to raise strong voice against the river pollution and encroachment terming it as an act like that of Rajakars who committed crimes against humanity during 1971 Liberation War.
“Rajakars had killed people and raped women in 1971 . . . the vested quarters involved in killing rivers are also guilty like Rajakars,” he said this on Saturday while speaking at a roundtable conference at VIP Lounge of Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The minister said the government is working to free some 46 canals of Dhaka from all sorts of illegal encroachers.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), a forum of environmentalists, and Buriganga Riverkeeper jointly organized the roundtable on future of the Buriganga river. Buriganga Riverkeeper and BAPA Joint Secretary Sharif Jamil presented the keynote paper.
“We must stop the sources of toxic and wastewater of tanneries, mills and factories that mixes in natural water and pollute about 60 percent rivers of the country,” the minister mentioned.
He also underscored the need for changing mindset to protect river water.
Expressing his grave concern over building infrastructures on the riverbank he called upon the people to resist it.
Additional Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Rakibul Islam, eminent writer and researcher Syed Abul Maksud, former president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh Mobasser Hossain and Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, among others, took part in the discussion.
