RANGPUR, Sept 22, 2019 (BSS) – Rangpur unit of the river rights-based
organisation ‘Riverine People’ observed the World Rivers Day- 2019 demanding
for ensuring legal rights of rivers as living being in the city this
afternoon.
The ‘Riverine People’ formed a human chain on the river ‘Khoksha
Ghaghot’, now on the verge of extinction, followed by discussion and
recitation of poems related to saving the rivers, keeping those alive and
freeing from grabbing and contamination.
Presided over by Associate Professor of Begum Rokeya University and
President of the ‘Riverine People’ Dr. Tuhin Wadud, activists of the
organisation, teachers and students of the university participated in the
programmes.
Assistant Professor of the Department of Accounting and Information
Systems Umar Farooque of the university delivered keynote speech narrating
the present situation of the rivers across the country.
Section Officer of Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall of the university
Mahbuba Akhter, student-organisers of the ‘Riverine People’ Sanjay Chowdhury,
Kamal Hossain, Shaheen Reza Saikat and Happy Roy addressed.
Appreciating recent steps taken by the present government is saving the
rivers, the speakers urged the people to become more careful to save the
rivers and make those pollution-free for better future of the next
generations.
They termed the rivers as the life-line of the nation and its economy
and laid emphasis on creating social consciousness about importance of
ensuring uninterrupted water flow in the rivers to improve environment, bio-
diversity and ecology.
Dr. Wadud lauded the verdict with observations of the High Court
Division announced on July 7 this year declaring the rivers as living
entities and urging the people to be aware of the rivers.
He demanded for proper compliance of the High Court’s verdict so that
nobody would even think about grabbing the rivers and pollute those in the
future.
Assistant Professor Umar Farooque said the rivers are inseparable with
our life, economy, culture, ecosystems and existence and everyone must love
the rivers to save those for survival of the next generations.
He suggested the government, public and private sectors for taking
adequate initiatives for smooth implementation of the High Court verdict to
protect the rivers of the riverine Bangladesh.