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Govt firm on freeing rivers

PM asks to continue drive against grabbers, ensure industrial units have effluent treatment plants

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Kasina yesterday directed the authorities concerned to continue demolition of illegal structures on riverbanks across the country and compel the owners of mills and factories to use effluent-treatment y plant to save rivers and other water bodies from
pollution by industrial waste.
"The ongoing eviction drive will have to be continued to demolish all the illegal structures built through occupying the riverbanks," said the prime minister while addressing the function on the occasion of golden jubilee of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) at the city's Osmani Memorial Hall.
Hasina. also president of Awami League, directed to take strict measurers so that the reclaimed riverbanks are not occupied again.
She said every mill and factory must have effluent-treatment plant to save rivers from pollution. "We will have to save our rivers for our own existence," Hasina added.
Asking the government officials to work sincerely and transparently, the premier said, “No irregularity and negligence in implementing the government's development plans and projects will be tolerated."
Hasina said her government is committed to reviving the water-transport system for ensuring easier and cheaper communications. She said three to four marine academies are needed to be set up in the country for ensuring modern management of the water- transport system.
She said the government would take up a mega plan to dredge all the major rivers of the country for overall development of water transport system and added that massive plantations of trees along the riverbanks should be started to protect people from the increasing natural calamities due to global warming.
Sheikh Hasina said the 110-kilometer waterways surrounding Dhaka would be made navigable for watercraft, as it will be effective for reducing huge traffic congestion in the capital.
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The prime minister directed the shipping minister to devise ways to modernise all river ports. She also underscored the need for developing the river ports’ landing stations and signaling system for safe movement of watercraft, especially at night.
She said Iter government will build a deep seaport and modernise Chittagong and Mongla seaports.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan chaired the programme while acting secretary of the ministry Mohammad Masud Elahi and BIWTA Chairman M Abdul Mannan Hawlader also spoke.
Earlier, a documentary film on the country's water-transport system was showed. A colourful rally, led by the minister, was brought out from BIWTA's Motijhcel head office to the Jatiya Press Club.