Kishoreganj Correspondent

Before it threatened biodiversity, the oceans and the global food chain, plastics saved lives and transformed societies as a durable, malleable and cheap material. Awareness against the use of harmful polythene and plastic products in the country increasing.

The environment of Haor has been severely polluted due to the dumping of plastic and other waste in the vast Haor areas in the country . At the same time, the water of Haor is being polluted. This has threatened the environment and biodiversity of Haor. Experts fear that if this situation continues, there will soon be a major loss of biodiversity including Haor's silver fish resources.

After investigation, it was found that various non-biodegradable plastic waste including polythene and packets of biscuits and chips are being dumped in the rivers, canals of various unions and haat-bazars in the Itna Ashtagram of Kishoreganj's Deep Haor upazila, Mithamin and Nikli upazilas. In this, Haor's canals including Dhanu, Kalni, Ghorautra, Narsunda, Meghna rivers are getting seriously polluted.

The fish habitat of rivers and canals is under threat. As a result, the freshwater fish population is decreasing day by day. In addition, due to the decrease in the reproduction of various plants under the water, the natural food of ducks and other animals is also lacking. Due to these reasons, the arrival of seasonal birds may be less in this winter season, said the people of different professions in Haor.

Recently, various areas of Haor have been visited on the surface, heaps of plastic and other wastes on the banks of rivers, along the road to Mithamin Haor. These wastes are being dumped in the water there. Later from there, these waste waters are flowing into canals under Ghorautra, Kalni, Narsunda and Meghna rivers. There is no garbage storage in these places. Environmentalists have expressed concern over such mismanagement of waste that is harmful to nature.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kishoreganj, Mizabe Rahmat said that, the administration has already warned against dumping hundreds of bottles, packets and polythene in the haor.Strict laws should be enforced to protect the area from such environmental damage .

We want a pollution - free fresh environment,so we have to stand against pollution and take a vow to protect haor,ADM Mizabe Rahmat added.

District Environment Protection Movement President Principal Professor (Retd.) Rabindranath Chowdhury said that there is no designated place and waste management program for dumping dirt and plastic waste in various bazaars including about 36 unions of Itna, Mithamin, Nikoli and Ashtagram in Howar. Because of this, everyone is throwing garbage everywhere. The air is being polluted by the stench of dirt. Non-biodegradable plastic waste is being washed into canals and rivers along with rain and monsoon water. He said, on the south bank of Ghorautra river, it can be seen that garbage is being thrown freely on the banks of the river. Garbage and waste piled up in bazaars and left freely on the banks of vast haors and rivers.

A large part of which is plastic waste. The current interim government is very aware of these issues. Various activities of the government are coming to the grassroots. Hopefully, if awareness comes forward about waste now, many of the problems will be solved. Local residents said that there is no alternative to quickly build waste storage, treatment plant and increase awareness to bring back the normal environment of Haor and solve these problems.

Senior Advocate Maya Bhowmick, also president,Mohila Parishad in Kishoreganj, said the level of environmental pollution due to garbage is gradually increasing due to lack of waste management in Hoar . Already, plastic waste has become a threat to the environment of Haor. These wastes are destroying the ecosystem. Local administration should be more active in these matters.

Traders in various markets of Itna and Nikli in Howar said that garbage is being dumped everywhere due to non-installation of dustbins. Often the stench makes it difficult to shop. It is necessary to build garbage disposal and sewage treatment plant somewhere far away. Momin Bhuiyan, Assistant Director Md (in-charge) of Kishoreganj Environment Department, said that the manpower of the Environment Department is very low. Still, we have an initiative to make the people aware of these issues regarding the local administration.

Dilshad Jahan, UNO of Itna haor upazila said that, the environment of Haor is getting seriously polluted due to people's ignorance. If this situation continues, the biodiversity of Haor along with the decrease in the depth of the river will be seriously affected, as well as the production of freshwater fish. He said that several decisions will be taken in the Upazila Parishad meeting to make tourists aware of these issues in each union and Hoar.

CAB president in Kishoreganj, Alam Sarowar Tito said, initially plans have been taken including waste management, construction site. Awareness meetings have been held. In the winter season of this year, the garbage management program will be widely adopted and implemented. District Fisheries Officer , kishoreganj Ripon Kumar Pall said, measures should be taken to prevent waste and plastic waste at any cost in order to save domestically developed fish including Haor's silver fish resources.