NRCC failing to protect wetlands

Agencies such as the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC), Water Development Board (WDB), and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority are failing to play their roles in protecting wetlands, said  speakers at a seminar yesterday.

NRCC is currently protecting the interest of river grabbers, they alleged.

Speakers said Bangladesh has seen significant decline in the area of its wetlands due to various factors such as rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. These changes have put pressure on the country's water resources and have raised concerns about the future of water security in the country.

A group of environmentalists and other rights activists spoke at the discussion, jointly organised by Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), in collaboration with Water Rights Forum (WRF) in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

"Bangladesh lags behind countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan in terms of water security," according to WRF Secretary General Sheikh Rokon.

Bangladesh has seen significant declines in the area of its wetlands due to various factors such as rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. These changes have put pressure on the country's water resources and have raised concerns about the future of water security in the country.

"Government institutes such as NRCC, WDB, BIWTA are not performing their duty properly," he added.

Addressing the seminar, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bela, said the housing projects are filling up the wetlands in Dhaka.

"The grabbers are taking wetlands away," she said.

"Environmental organisations and activists are advocating for formulating a river protection law through NRCC. But the current leadership of the body is failing to protect wetlands," she said.

"Water, river, environment related government institutions must properly account for their assets and display them to the public," said NRCC former chairman Muzibur Rahman Howlader.

Shamsul Huda, ALRD executive director, has alleged that the NRCC is being managed by river grabbers.

"The NRCC chairman now works as a guardian of the river grabbers," he added.

Presiding over the function, ALRD Chairperson Khushi Kabir demanded that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term sustainability of water sources in the country.

"The government must work together to implement effective measures to protect and preserve the country's wetlands and promote water security for the future," he said.

Around a dozen environmentalists and rights activists spoke at the event.