What are the authorities doing to save the Buriganga?

As grabbing of our rivers goes on across the country without any break despite the High Court's order to save them at all costs and despite it terming them as "living" entities, we have come to know about yet another incident of encroachment of the riverbank of Buriganga. According to a report published by this newspaper on Saturday, in the capital's Kamrangirchar area, local syndicates are again encroaching upon the banks of the river setting up truck stands, businesses of construction materials, motor workshops, etc. While visiting the site recently, our reporter found dozens of trucks, pickups and small vehicles parked on the filled-up riverbank while trading of wood, sand, brick and stone was also going on at different spots. Moreover, household waste was also being dumped on the site.

What we do not understand is what the authorities responsible for looking after the river are doing when its banks are constantly being filled up and used for illegal purposes. Although the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) conducted some drives recently, they could not evict all the occupiers. And the BIWTA's plan to construct walkways and plant trees on the banks of the Buriganga may seem harmless, but it is, in fact, a violation of the High Court's directive, as the court strictly prohibited such initiatives. Moreover, according to Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), the way the demarcation pillars were set up on the banks of the Buriganga was faulty.

Therefore, what the authorities must do now to save the Buriganga, the lifeline of Dhaka, is re-demarcate the riverbank boundaries and excavate the filled-up stretches of the riverbank on an urgent basis. The BIWTA can build walkways later, after proper demarcation is done. The authorities should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the natural flow of the river. In addition, all the illegal businesses set up there must be evicted without further delay. Action must also be taken against the river grabbers as per our laws. Needless to say, the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC), the guardian of the country's rivers, has an important role to play here. The government must strengthen the commission and give them enough power so it can really work to protect our rivers.