Restoring rivers challenging but possible: Adviser Rizwana

Dhaka, 24 Feb  – Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Monday emphasised the need for collective action to restore Bangladesh's endangered rivers.

"Restoring rivers is challenging, but it is possible. And we must start today," she stressed.

Speaking at an international seminar on water and flood management at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, the adviser highlighted discussions with international and bilateral development partners and noted the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) interest in the restoration of the Buriganga River.

She pointed out the significant gap between policy formulation and implementation and identified the lack of commitment to execution as the primary challenge.

"People expect immediate solutions -- clean air today, a pollution-free river tomorrow. But an environment neglected and destroyed over decades cannot be restored overnight," she said.

The adviser highlighted excessive water extraction as a critical issue, causing rivers to lose their natural flow. Many rivers that once merged into the sea are now drying up and turning into industrial waste drains. "We must change this situation," she asserted.

Addressing transboundary water-sharing issues, Rizwana Hasan stressed the need for strategic preparedness. She mentioned that Bangladesh is in the final stages of ratifying the European Convention on Shared Lakes and Rivers, which will strengthen the country's position in international water negotiations.

Regarding flood management, she underlined Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate risks. She called for increased investment in river dredging, flood prevention, and community preparedness. "Our early warning systems must be more effective, and information must reach people in a language they understand," she added.

The seminar was chaired by Prof Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Other speakers included Nazmul Ahsan, secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources; SM Mahbubur Rahman, executive director of the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM); Malik Fida A Khan, executive director of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS).