Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
Due to reluctantness of the concerned authorities, rivers grabbing and pollution are being increased in Khulna city and at nine upazila areas of Khulna district by some influential persons whimsically.
Even the authorities of a police outpost named “Daulatpur Trade School Police Phari”, located at Daulatpur launch ghat area in the city which is run by the administration of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). The above-mentioned police outpost authorities have been grabbing lands adjacent to the river Bhairab, but KMP authorities have not paying any heed to it. (The photo related to this story (News) proves the grabbing of the river Bhairab by the authorities of Daulatpur Trade School police Phari).
Everybody of our country knows that “Bangladesh is a riverine country” and as such on March 22, 2017, during the observance of the world water day, the Ministry of Water resources of Bangladesh declared a theme “If it is possible to save rivers , then it would be possible to save our beloved country Bangladesh”. But it is a matter of great regret (and also the matter of great mystery) that like other parts of the country, rivers of Khulna are being polluted and grabbed by illegal influential grabbers whimsically at random.
Three main rivers of Khulna have still been occupied by the influential encroachers, Even policemen of Daulatpur police outpost have also been occupied, posing threat to the City protection dyke. The three main rivers of Khulna are Bhairab, Rupsha and Moyur.
Some influential men have built several establishments including concrete structures, occupying both the rivers from Rupsha bridge to Shiromoni area. They have built business -centers, factories and Jute go downs beside the rivers. Hanging latrines of these factories and business centers have been posing threat to the rivers, as the garbage are mixed with the river water. As a result water of the two rivers would be unusable within a few days, experts think.
Shariful Islam, Abdul Jalil, Shakhawat Hossain,Debbrota Das, Arun Devnath,Ramesh Malakar and Kamolesh Mondal, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been increasing their brick and sand business occupying the rivers at Khulna Jailkhana ghat, Rupsha ghat,Delta ghat,Khalishpur Burma Eastern ghat, Digholia, Shiromoni and Phultala ghat areas, adjacent to the river Bhairab.
By grabbing three main rivers- Bhairab, Rupsha and Moyur, some influential people have already built structures, houses shops and other organizations which are being increased gradually.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river grabbers is urgent in order to protect the city protection embankment.
An Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) said, in 1993-94 fiscal building of Khulna city protection embankment started under Secondary town integrated flood protection project with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank(ADB).
“The project included 28/2 no. poldar, 3.5 km alternative embankment, Jailkhana ghat, Rujvelt Jety ghat, Sadar hospital ghat and Ansar Flour Mill,”he added.
Sources of WDB said, due to illegal occupation of the rivers by some traders and factory owners, city protection embankment is not now in right position, as such steps should be taken as soon as possible against the grabbers.
It is mentionable in this connection that on March 16, 2017, Water resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud was present as chief guest at a workshop in the conference room of Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Jessore while he had told that the government is firmly determined to evict all encroachers from the rivers.
Experts think, Khulna City Corporation, Water Development Board (WDB) authorities, Khulna district administration and police administration (Both KMP and Khulna district police authorities) could play pivotal roles in respect of the eviction of the illegal influential river grabbers of Khulna city and district areas.
Due to reluctantness of the concerned authorities, rivers grabbing and pollution are being increased in Khulna city and at nine upazila areas of Khulna district by some influential persons whimsically.
Even the authorities of a police outpost named “Daulatpur Trade School Police Phari”, located at Daulatpur launch ghat area in the city which is run by the administration of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). The above-mentioned police outpost authorities have been grabbing lands adjacent to the river Bhairab, but KMP authorities have not paying any heed to it. (The photo related to this story (News) proves the grabbing of the river Bhairab by the authorities of Daulatpur Trade School police Phari).
Everybody of our country knows that “Bangladesh is a riverine country” and as such on March 22, 2017, during the observance of the world water day, the Ministry of Water resources of Bangladesh declared a theme “If it is possible to save rivers , then it would be possible to save our beloved country Bangladesh”. But it is a matter of great regret (and also the matter of great mystery) that like other parts of the country, rivers of Khulna are being polluted and grabbed by illegal influential grabbers whimsically at random.
Three main rivers of Khulna have still been occupied by the influential encroachers, Even policemen of Daulatpur police outpost have also been occupied, posing threat to the City protection dyke. The three main rivers of Khulna are Bhairab, Rupsha and Moyur.
Some influential men have built several establishments including concrete structures, occupying both the rivers from Rupsha bridge to Shiromoni area. They have built business -centers, factories and Jute go downs beside the rivers. Hanging latrines of these factories and business centers have been posing threat to the rivers, as the garbage are mixed with the river water. As a result water of the two rivers would be unusable within a few days, experts think.
Shariful Islam, Abdul Jalil, Shakhawat Hossain,Debbrota Das, Arun Devnath,Ramesh Malakar and Kamolesh Mondal, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been increasing their brick and sand business occupying the rivers at Khulna Jailkhana ghat, Rupsha ghat,Delta ghat,Khalishpur Burma Eastern ghat, Digholia, Shiromoni and Phultala ghat areas, adjacent to the river Bhairab.
By grabbing three main rivers- Bhairab, Rupsha and Moyur, some influential people have already built structures, houses shops and other organizations which are being increased gradually.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river grabbers is urgent in order to protect the city protection embankment.
An Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB) said, in 1993-94 fiscal building of Khulna city protection embankment started under Secondary town integrated flood protection project with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank(ADB).
“The project included 28/2 no. poldar, 3.5 km alternative embankment, Jailkhana ghat, Rujvelt Jety ghat, Sadar hospital ghat and Ansar Flour Mill,”he added.
Sources of WDB said, due to illegal occupation of the rivers by some traders and factory owners, city protection embankment is not now in right position, as such steps should be taken as soon as possible against the grabbers.
It is mentionable in this connection that on March 16, 2017, Water resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud was present as chief guest at a workshop in the conference room of Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Jessore while he had told that the government is firmly determined to evict all encroachers from the rivers.
Experts think, Khulna City Corporation, Water Development Board (WDB) authorities, Khulna district administration and police administration (Both KMP and Khulna district police authorities) could play pivotal roles in respect of the eviction of the illegal influential river grabbers of Khulna city and district areas.
