ZCZC
BSS-48
HASAN-RIVER-PROTECTION
Hasan for protecting rivers to save country
DHAKA, Nov 29, 2020 (BSS)- Terming the country’s rivers as veins of human body, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud toady said protection of the country’s rivers is a must to save the country.
“It is difficult to protect the country, climate and the people of river basins if we could not protect our rivers from grabbing and pollution, as death is inevitable if the veins of a human body are damaged. For this, we should devote ourselves to save the rivers,” he said.
The information minister was addressing a seminar titled ‘Bangabandhu o Nadimathrik Bangladesh’ at an auditorium of a hotel in the capital.
The Shipping Ministry organized the seminar marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
State Minister for Shipping Ministry Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury addressed it as special guest.
Hasan said 93 percent sources of the country’s rivers are from outside Bangladesh. “These rivers carry 3.8 billion tonnes silt on their way to sea. Of them, 40 to 45 million tonnes of silt have been stored in river ways. Thus, some islands surfaced in the sea during the last four years. Even, Subornochar was not here before 50 years ago,” he added.
Like this, he said, many islands have surfaced. The char, where the issue of temporary relocation of Rohingyas today is being discussed, did not exist not even 50 years ago, he said.
It is possible to come up with a comprehensive plan to harness the potential that is being created at sea, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The minister said the world’s temperature will be increased about three degree if all agreement of Paris will be implemented cent percent. The height of sea level will be increased if the temperature would increase, he added.
“In this context, we should make future plan how to protect the rivers by keeping in mind the next 100 years. A physical plan is needed all over the country as where the people will live and where crops will be produced,” he said.
Extending thanks to the shipping ministry for its continuous efforts of protecting rivers, the information minister said the ministry is taking tough actions against the grabbers and polluters under the leadership of its State Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
He said it is necessary to strengthen the river protection commission to stop the occupiers and sustain the process. There should be also a strong taskforce, he added.
Paying rich tribute to Bangabandhu, the information minister said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu got only three and a half years after the independence. In this short time, he (Bangabandhu had initiated all progress of the country and enacted the law, “on which we stand and walk”, he added.
“Even, we could not lodge case for sea boundary if the country would not become a member of the committee of sea boundary of the United Nations. It would not be possible for us to bring the enclaves if the territory agreement was not signed in 1974,” said Hasan.
He is one who designed the ground of satellite of the Bangladesh flag that is flying today on Bangabandhu Satellite.
Now, he said, the country is moving ahead indomitably under the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu’s worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Our united goal is to materialise the dream of Bangabandhu within 2041. To implement the dream, rivers should be protected,” said Hasan.
Khalid said the nation could enjoy the benefits of rivers if Bangabandhu is alive. “But, now, we are facing challenges to protect the rivers. We are facing the challenges under his (Bangabandhu) worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he added.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral Mohammad Khaled Iqbal read out the keynote paper in the seminar with Secretary of Shipping Ministry Mohammad Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury in the chair.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq, senior water resource expert of the Institute of Water Modelling Saiful Alam, Department of Water Resources Engineering of BUET Professor Dr Md Ataur Rahman and writer and researcher Sheikh Rokan discussed on the keynote paper.
Department of Shipping Director General Commodore AZM Jalal Uddin conducted it.
BSS/ASG/PSB/KU/2125 HRS