Most of the rivers in the country are not in good condition. Many rivers of riverine Bangladesh are dying, becoming non-existent. Many rivers have disappeared. Dhu Dhu Baluchar is appearing across the chest of the once dry river.
No water in the dry season. During the monsoon season, this river overflows the two lakes and causes misery. Most of the rivers do not have the capacity to hold monsoon water. Many rivers have lost their navigability due to lack of proper maintenance.
There are many rivers, which once used to be used by large boats including steamers, which can now be crossed on foot. The river, which is closely related to the life of the people of Bangladesh, is in a very sad state today.
90 percent of the country’s rivers are in crisis. More than a hundred have disappeared. Rivers plagued by encroachment and pollution. According to the district wise survey, although there are 1008 rivers in the country, hundred percent of the rivers flowing through the city are subject to encroachment and pollution. Environmentalist organization Sabuj Andolan has highlighted this information in their research report. The organization is carrying out district-wise research through the District Committee of Information and Research Council. This information was presented in a seminar organized at the National Press Club last Sunday.
There are 168 rivers in Dhaka Division, 90 in Barisal Division, 124 in Khulna Division, 110 in Rajshahi Division, 268 in Rangpur Division, 135 in Mymensingh Division. Water has flowed 24 thousand 140 km across the country. But in the overall sense, the socio-economic development of the river is not the driving force of the economy of Bangladesh, but it has become a thorn in the neck. Currently there are 108 rivers, but 90 percent of them are suffering from navigable crises. As a result, recent floods in various districts have created a dire situation. The navigable crisis of the river has been considered as the main reason for this. In addition to river encroachment and pollution, biodiversity is also under threat. According to 2015 IUCN data, 31 species of wildlife have become extinct in the country. Numerous wildlife species are threatened today. As habitat is lost, so is habitat quality.
Initiatives should be taken to identify, demarcate and excavate all water bodies in the country to stop the filling of water bodies. In addition to allocating specific money in the national budget to strengthen environmental research by creating a stakeholder body officially composed of environmentalist organizations, researchers and environmental journalists, effective steps must be taken to stop all types of corruption.
It must be remembered that rivers are an integral part of our social, cultural, political and economic life. Fresh water flowing through numerous rivers spread like a net is the main source of environment, biodiversity, crop production and human livelihood. There are very few countries in the world that have rivers like Bangladesh. Rivers that are encroached and polluted must be saved for good reason. Along with this, fish resources should be utilized properly through the river. Not only to earn foreign exchange by meeting the domestic demand of fish and exporting it; There is no alternative to river conservation to save lives, protect the environment, increase land fertility, maintain productivity, mitigate rising temperatures, and preserve natural balance. For that, proper and effective steps are necessary.
Water is flowing like a stream somewhere. Knee deep somewhere. Experts have been demanding for a long time that the river should be dug to divert the flow.
The nature of riverine Bangladesh, people’s life, agriculture – almost everything depends on the river. So, it is said, Bangladesh will not survive unless the river survives. But many rivers have already died. But many rivers are lost due to lack of proper management. The bottom of many rivers has been filled with silt. The interim government should undertake a program of re-dredging small rivers, canals and reservoirs in 64 districts of the country under the Delta Plan. Excavation of many rivers and canals has already been completed. But just as there are issues about the accuracy of excavation, so is the lack of post-excavation maintenance. Not only re-excavation, but the quality of re-excavation and subsequent maintenance is very important. At the same time, necessary steps should be taken to restore the navigability of the river before it becomes too full. Pragmatic river governance is needed.