EDITOR'S NOTE

Dying rivers threaten Dhaka

Outrageous offenses require ruthless handling

More than two years ago, The Daily Star launched its campaign to save the rivers in and around the capital from encroachment and pollution by giving extensive news coverage. In 2009 we ran a series of in-depth stories on river grabbing showing how a section of people in the name of housing projects are flouting the laws and rules of the country and claiming parts of the Buriganga, Balu, Turag and Shitalakhya right under the nose of the government.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself instructed the authorities to evict the grabbers and penalise the polluters. The country's highest court also came forward in issuing orders in the same line. The authorities concerned accordingly launched a drive.

But soon afterwards, we saw how the drive fizzled out and how, despite the highest political commitment expressed by the government, grabbers and polluters have continued to flout the laws and encroach the rivers.

The encroachers have literally taken over thousands of spots in the rivers. If anyone takes a ride around Ashulia, one would see how blatantly the encroachers are claiming a stake of the river. The rivers once dominated by fishermen and commuters are now literally crowded with thousands of trawlers that collect sand --mostly to fill up low lying lands and the river themselves; river banks are spotted with dredging pipes busy filling up the river banks where hundreds of signboards promising upcoming "cities" galore. For the encroachers, the encroachment means brisk business of selling plots to unsuspecting buyers who include expatriate Bangladeshis.

But this is not just a phenomenon around Dhaka. In the absence of legal action, the encroachment culture has now spread across the country wherever there is a township. There are literally thousands of signboards of various “cities” on the two sides of the highway from Dhaka to Narsingdi and beyond. The country is losing invaluable rivers -- its lifeline and food provider-- and prime agricultural land while the encroachers, through selling the lands that they don't really own to thousands of people are increasingly making it difficult for the authorities to take proper action.

Encroachment has become a national problem. The government's efforts so far have been half-hearted, uncoordinated and as such ineffective. We cannot afford to lose the battle to save our rivers.

This special publication is aimed at re-awakening public support and reinvigorating government action. We have to win our battle against river grabbers and polluters.