By Md. Zillur Rahaman

February 2 is World Wetlands Day. Since February 2, 1997, environment conscious citizens of more than 100 countries have been celebrating this day. Wetlands are a rich reservoir of environment and biodiversity. Therefore, realizing the immense importance of wetlands, on this day in 1971, an international agreement was signed for the sustainable use and conservation of wetlands at the environmental conference in the city of Ramsar, Iran, which is known as Ramsar Convention Agreement. In 1975, the Ramsar Convention came into force. So far 172 countries have ratified the Convention and 2,471 sites covering an area of 25,61,92,356 hectares have been listed as Wetlands of International Importance. The United Nations body UNESCO serves as the coordinator of the Ramsar Convention.

Bangladesh signed the Ramsar Convention in 1992. Bangladesh is a riverine country. Many wetlands like rivers, beel, haor, baor surround this country. According to Bangla Pedia, 7 to 8 lakh hectares of land in this country is in one way or another wetlands which is about 50 percent of our total area. Wetlands are an integral part of environmental balance, biodiversity, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, etc. Although small in size, Bangladesh has a very rich biodiversity. In 1992, Sundarbans, a symbol of natural beauty and lush land, was declared the first and in 2000, Tanguar Howar was declared as the second Ramsar site (wetlands recognized internationally by the Ramsar Convention) of Bangladesh.

Once upon a time, there was a saying, cows are full of cows, ponds are full of fish, but as the reservoirs are slowly filling up, we are losing the old glory of Bengali with fish and rice. Livelihoods and environmental protection are threatened. Natural reservoirs such as rivers, canals and ponds scattered in different parts of the country play a major role in protecting the balance of the environment and biodiversity. In addition to this, wetlands are of immense importance in keeping the environment cool, preventing flooding during the monsoon season, reducing waterlogging in cities, meeting water needs and cleaning garbage.

But unfortunately with the passage of time wetlands are disappearing in cities and villages. People are filling the wetlands as they wish. But wetlands are very important for maintaining the balance of the environment, survival of flora and fauna. In this country, there is no shortage of rivers, canals, ponds, rivers, but only the lack of conservation! Wetlands are being filled one after another at village, union, upazila, district and city levels. Article 4.13 of the National Water Policy formulated in 1999 states, “The national wetlands of Haor, Baor and Beel are a unique natural resource of Bangladesh. Apart from their natural beauty, their economic and ecological importance is immense. The haors and baors have water at considerable depth even during the dry season, but the smaller beels usually turn into wetlands in the final stage. These beels are the lowest part of the floodplain. These water bodies are the source of the bulk of our natural fisheries and are home to a variety of aquatic plants and birds. Apart from that, it is a reliable shelter for visiting birds from the Northern Hemisphere during the winter season. Haor and Beels are connected to the river through canals. In the past, engineering interventions have resulted in many beels being converted into cultivated arable land for immediate crop yield. But after a few days its adverse reactions became evident. First of all, fish and aquatic vegetables like kachu, shapla, kalmi, the source of food for the rural people, disappeared. During the rainy season, the waste from the floodplains was carried and treated by flowing canals and discharged. But in controlled conditions, the natural purification process has been disrupted and has created a serious environmental crisis.

On the other hand, the 'Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board' notification made in 2000 stated, 'Haor and Wetland Area means the low-lying flooded area commonly known as Haor and Baor. Article 187 of the Land Management Manual 1990 states, "Closed reservoirs shall mean those reservoirs whose boundaries are fixed i.e. enclosed by land and which are suitable for fishing at certain times of the year to obtain the fullness of fish stocks." Generally, bodies of water known as haor, beel, jheel, lake, dighi and pond etc. are considered as closed body of water'. The National Water Policy also mentions, 'Haor, Baor and Beel National Wetlands are regional characteristics of Bangladesh and a unique natural resource.

However, many big roads have been constructed by the past government in Haor area of Netrakona, Sunamganj and Kishoreganj in the last decade in the name of development highway. Some of these are on the side of Haor, some are right in the middle of Haor. For example, the government launched the 30 km long Etna-Mithamain and Ashtagram roads in Kishoreganj in 2020 without checking the feasibility of the long-term environment. Incidentally, government bureaucrats and high-ups went and inaugurated these roads elatedly. Most of the people in these areas were happy without realizing the harmful aspects of building these roads, but some environmentalist organizations had been criticizing these projects for fear of environmental damage from the beginning. Naturally, the authorities did not pay heed their words. But finally the government admitted that the construction of these roads was not on the right way.

On May 20, 2023, in a seminar in Dhaka, the former planning minister of the past government admitted that the construction of the road in the middle of Haor was not right and said, 'Those who live in Haor, they also have the right to go to the city through a good road. The financial condition of the government was also good at that time. Then we built excellent roads in Howar. But now we feel that by building that road, we have shot ourselves in the foot. By building the road in Howre, more harm than good has been done.' He also said that due to the road, the movement of water is being blocked. During the rainy season, the water overflows the houses. Biodiversity of Haor is getting destroyed. Haor's own species of fish, trees - hijal, kachach, pankauri including various animals and plants are being destroyed. No more road construction related projects will be taken up in Hoar. Because, by building the road in Hoar, there is a bad luck rather than a good luck. For this reason, the last Prime Minister has ordered not to build dams and roads in hoar and if any development project is made in hoar area, it should be carefully scrutinized.

According to the government's 'Natural Reservoir Conservation Act-2000', it is completely illegal to fill any pond-reservoir, river-canal. According to the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act-2010, it is completely prohibited to fill ponds or reservoirs of government or semi-government, even autonomous organizations or privately owned by any person, organization without national essential interest. But unfortunately many influential people and organizations are violating the law and destroying the natural wetlands and destroying the balance of the environment. This has resulted in long-term negative impacts on the people and biodiversity that depend on wetlands.

Wetlands are essential for sustainable living in urban areas. Because wetlands are the largest source of immediate water supply to the city. In 2010, when Dhaka's 'DAP' (Dhaka Detailed Area Plan) was being pushed for implementation, it was thought that the wetlands around Dhaka would be saved, but due to unplanned urbanization, land grabbing and pressure from the dominant, wetlands are disappearing one by one. At one time there were about two thousand ponds, 52 canals and numerous lakes in the capital city of Dhaka. But much of it is now being demolished to fill low-lying areas to meet housing demand. About 5,000 acres of wetlands are being lost annually from the Dhaka City Corporation area alone and in this way, an average of 42,000 acres of reservoirs are being filled every year across the country. The capital city of Dhaka has had an adverse effect on the filling of wetlands. Most of the canals and low-lying areas have been filled up, and the city dwellers are now inundated with even a little rain.

The loss of wetlands one after another from Bangladesh, which is known as the 'land of rivers', means knowingly causing damage to the country. The loss of wetlands has had a negative impact on the livelihoods of marginal people who depend on wetlands. Wetlands are our wealth, reservoir of biodiversity and lifeblood. Protecting water bodies in this changing reality of climate change is very important for biodiversity and environment protection.

The writer is a Banker and Columnist