Staff Correspondent

Water Resources Minister Shohid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, MP, on Thursday, emphasized the need for integrated and long-term initiatives to protect the rivers surrounding the capital city of Dhaka, control pollution, restore navigability, and ensure natural water flow.

The Minister made these remarks while addressing as the chief guest at a high-level event titled "High Level Event on Bangladesh Rivers Pollution Control, Conservation and Management of the Rivers Surrounding Capital Dhaka" organized by Team European Union at Aloki in Gulshan, Dhaka on Thursday.

 He stressed that river management must be approached by recognizing rivers as vital components of the capital's environment, public health, biodiversity, and economy.

Anee  said,  freeing the rivers surrounding Dhaka—including the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakhya, and Dhaleshwari—from pollution and illegal encroachment remains a key priority for the government. He urged all concerned agencies to fulfill their duties diligently to stop the dumping of industrial, sewage, and solid waste into the rivers.

"Controlling river pollution is beyond the capacity of any single ministry or agency. Integrated collaboration is required among all relevant entities, including the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Shipping, Local Government Division, City Corporations, Ministry of Industries, and RAJUK. At the same time, riverside communities, industrial entities, and civil society must play responsible roles," the Minister noted.

The event was also addressed by Mahbuba Rahman, Director General of the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) Bangladesh Parliament; Qingfeng Zhang, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Michal Krejza, Minister Counselor and Head of Development Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh; Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh; and Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, among others.