Environmental activists and researchers at a Rajshahi rally warned that pollution and encroachment are threatening rivers and wetlands, urging stronger monitoring, waste management and restoration to protect biodiversity, agriculture and public health.
Researchers, environmental activists and social watchdogs have called for urgent measures to protect rivers and wetlands across Bangladesh warning that continued pollution and encroachment are threatening biodiversity agriculture and public health.
The demand came from a rally titled “Save Rivers Save Life Save Bangladesh” held on Saturday in Bargachhi village under Paba upazila of Rajshahi.
Participants said rivers and wetlands are lifelines for ecosystems and communities especially in the drought-prone Barind region and stressed that protecting their natural flow is essential for sustaining livelihoods and ecological balance.
The rally was jointly organised by Rajshahi Green Coalition ,Barind Youth Forum and Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK).
Rahima Khatun president of Paba Upazila Green Coalition chaired the event. Among the speakers were BARCIK regional coordinator Shahidul Islam Bogra Rural Development Academy director Sheikh Mehdi Mohammad environmental activists Mahbub Siddiqui and Nur Mohammad and Barind Youth Forum president Atikur Rahman.
Speakers expressed concern that some rivers are being labelled as canals under ongoing excavation programmes. They warned that such practices could distort the identity of rivers and accelerate environmental degradation.
The rally also called for immediate steps to improve waste management in Rajshahi city and stop the discharge of untreated effluents into nearby rivers and wetlands.
Participants urged authorities to make effluent treatment plants mandatory for industries hospitals and commercial institutions along with strict monitoring and legal action against polluters.
They also demanded the disconnection of direct drainage links to rivers formation of an independent committee to identify pollution sources and publication of transparent monitoring reports.
The speakers stressed the importance of regularly testing water and soil quality in Sapmara, Bogmari, Bhugroi, Paikor ,Borobaria and other wetlands and rivers to protect public health and agricultural productivity.
They further called for stopping the encroachment and filling of rivers and wetlands and urged the government to implement an integrated restoration master plan involving local communities youth environmental organisations and experts.
