DHAKA, Sept 20, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud
Chowdhury today called upon all irrespective of political affiliation to make
united efforts to save rivers.
“Civilizations developed along rivers banks. To keep civilization, we have
to take united efforts to save rivers,” he told a floating meeting on a BIWTA
ship on the Buriganga river here.
Nongor, a social organisation for river safety, arranged the meeting.
Khalid, also Awami League organising secretary, said the government is very
sincere to save rivers so that different steps have been taken to free rivers
from illegal occupation and pollution.
The people have welcomed the government steps taken for saving rivers,
he said.
Khalid said after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, conspiracies had been hatched to destroy the rivers to
turn Bangladesh into a failed state.
During their regimes, Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad did not give any attention
to rivers, he added.
“Zia and Ershad hatched conspiracy to destroy rivers as like as they
spoiled the young generation by giving them arms and money,” the state
minister said.
Awami League (AL) Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afjal
Hossain, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman
Commodore M Mahbub-ul Islam, Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Manzil Morshed,
Barrister Farzana Ahmed, AL leader Ashraful Islam Maruf, environment expert
Ezaz Ahmed and Nongor President Sumon Shams, among others, addressed the
function.