National River Conservation Commission chairman Manjur A Chowdhury on Sunday said that the NRCC wanted six months imprisonment for Dhaka North City Corporation mayor and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority managing director for polluting Dhaka rivers.
He came up with the statement at a discussion organised by the NRCC marking World River Day at CIRDAP in Dhaka.
Manjur A Chowdhury said that Dhaka WASA had been discharging 50 lakh kg of stools and 150 crore litres of urine everyday into Dhaka water bodies that ultimately dumped into rivers while DNCC didn’t take any measures to check pollution through canals and its drainage network.
‘We will conduct mobile court to bring the polluters into book. We will demand to the court for six months’ imprisonment for DNCC mayor and Dhaka WASA MD, ‘ said Manjur.
State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury as the chief guest said that a group of people were trying to spread unrest over environmental issues in the country.
‘A group of people stood against development of the country rising environment issues ahead. They even picked communal harmony issue to prevent development in case of Mongla Port project,’ he said.
He said that the activists should speak, if they have anything to say, during planning stage of development project.
Khalid said that grabbers used different techniques. ‘Religious institutions are being used by some others to grab rivers.’
UN resident coordination in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis said that rivers were lifeline for economic development of any country.
She reiterated promise to support Bangladesh to protect its rivers and environment.
River expert emeritus Professor Ainun Nishat said that Bangladesh might reclaim huge land in coastal districts through environmental management of rivers.
He said that waterways might be cost effective transport medium in the country.
River activists demanded the government to take pragmatic steps to protect rivers from polluters and grabbers.
They also demanded to make the taskforce formed to protect rivers.
