'Enforce law to save Karnaphuli'

The also stressed the need for proper maintenance and regular dredging to improve the navigability of the river on which the premier seaport, the economic lifeline of the country, is located.

Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (Bela) organised the seminar titled 'Lets Unite to Save the Karnaphuli' at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), with Prof Md Sikander Khan, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, Chittagong chapter, as the chief guest.

The discussants called for making an inventory and assessment of pollutants in all the 41 wards of the port city and tackling the pollution problem at ward level through community participation in order to reduce the pollution of the river.

They also underscored the need for better coordination among the Department of Environment (DoE), Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) in enforcing the environment laws.

The authorities often disregard the aspects of pollution and even many officials and employees of these departments are not aware of the laws, they said.

The speakers called on the environment lawyers, social and professional organisations to create awareness and forge a movement to save the river Karnaphuli.

Prof Sikander Khan called on conscious people to identify those who disregard other people's right to open access resources such as the rivers, and inform the authorities for necessary actions.

All the stakeholders of such open access resources should be united and help the authorities check activities that cause pollution and destruction of the environment, he said.

CDA Chairman Shah Mohammad Akhteruddin called for preserving open spaces and developing a new township along the Karnaphuli.

The CDA has recently prepared a physical planning for proper urbanisation and initiated some development projects involving the members of civil society and different experts, he said.

Under the project, roads bypassing the city centre and necessary bridges and culvert would be constructed soon, the CDA chairman added.

Mahmudul Islam, a former CDA chairman, said the industrial units polluting the environment should be closed down and people should help the authorities in this regard.

He also called for strict enforcement of laws to compel the industrial units to recycle their wastes in order to protect the environment.

Presenting the keynote paper, Assistant Professor Md Shahadat Hossain of the Institute of Marine Science of Chittagong University said the metropolitan city produces about 760 tons of solid wastes everyday and a bulk of them found its way into the Karnaphuli.

Chemical wastes from 720 industrial units, including 19 tanneries, 26 textile mills, four paint and dye manufacturing units, pesticides and detergent plants, paper mills, fertiliser factories, refinery and bitumen plant, along the banks of the Karnaphuli have been polluting the river water continuously, he said.

Prof Aminuddin Mridha of CU presented a slide show at the seminar, presided over by Prof Dr Mohiuddin of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science of CU.

Prof Sudhir Bikash Dev, former principal of Chittagong College, Principal Fazlul Haq of Government Mohsin College, Forum for Planned Chittagong (FPC) Vice-President Architect Bidhan Barua, CDA Chief Engineer Abdul Halim, journalist Asif Siraj and Jesmin Sultana Paru took part in the discussion, moderated by CU law department lecturer Mujtaba Md Abu Naser.