The government has emphasized the urgent need to rescue endangered rivers across Bangladesh, calling for immediate identification and prioritization of rivers at risk. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, made the remarks while presiding over the 56th Board Meeting of the River Research Institute held at the Water Building in Dhaka.
“The rivers that are dying due to siltation must be identified and saved. We must work alongside the National River Conservation Commission and develop a comprehensive list of such rivers,” said the advisor.
To this end, she instructed the River Research Institute to prepare a detailed action plan to revive the rivers that are still salvageable. This action plan may potentially receive funding through the Climate Change Trust Fund.
The advisor stressed the need to locate where in the country these endangered rivers are situated and understand the nature of their threats. “We need to diagnose the problems facing these rivers and determine appropriate interventions to restore them,” she added.
To facilitate this initiative, she directed the formation of a five-member technical committee, comprising representatives from BUET, CEGIS, the River Research Institute, and the Ministry. The committee will evaluate endangered rivers and offer expert recommendations.
The meeting was attended by Nazmul Ahsan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources; Md. Enayet Ullah, Director General of the Water Development Board; Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director of CEGIS; Dr. Md. Manjurul Kibria, researcher and professor; and Abu Horaira, Director General of the River Research Institute, among other board members.
