With the slogan “Stop River Pollution, Stop Plastic Pollution,” Dhorotri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA), Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Buriganga Riverkeeper, and Buriganga Nadi Morcha jointly hosted a series of special events on World Rivers Day. The programs took place on Sunday, 22 September 2024, at 10 AM, at Haji Abdul Awal High School in Kamrangirchar. The activities included a painting competition, a discussion session, a prize giving ceremony ceremony, and a plastic waste cleanup drive along the banks of the Buriganga River at Kholamora Ghat.
The event was chaired by Ibnul Saeed Rana, a leader of DHORA and Buriganga Nadi Morcha, with Dr. Mujibur Rahman Howladar, former chairman of the National River Protection Commission, attending as the chief guest. Faisal Ahmed, River Bangla Editor, was present as a guest. The event was moderated by Iqbal Farooq, manager of the research department at Waterkeepers Bangladesh.
In his address, Dr. Mujibur Rahman Howladar reflected on the deteriorating state of rivers, saying, “The rivers I saw in my childhood and the ones I see now are heartbreaking. Once vibrant, the Buriganga has now become a foul-smelling river. Although Bangladesh is a riverine country with more rivers than most, we are the ones polluting and encroaching on these vital water bodies. We must raise awareness to stop this. The law already provides for punishment of those who pollute or encroach, as rivers are recognized as living entities. Our commitment on River Day should be to adopt practices that prevent us from polluting our rivers.”
Ibnul Saeed Rana, in his speech, emphasized, “On this River Day, we pledge to ensure that our rivers are neither polluted nor encroached upon. We must not contribute to their destruction in any way. The Earth provides everything for us, so why should we harm it?”
Faisal Ahmed, the guest speaker, stressed, “Today, we should all take an oath that we will never personally pollute the Buriganga River. We will not throw chips packets or plastic bottles into it. Only by making this commitment can we prevent further pollution.”
Other notable attendees included SM Jahangir Adel, Executive Director of Civic Society, Umme Salma, Secretary General of Seeking Safe Treatment, and Israt Jahan Lata, Chairperson of Banalta Women’s Development Organization, along with Manik Bepari, a leader of Buriganga Nadi Morcha. Following the discussions, prizes were awarded to the winners of the painting competition.
Earlier, a 27-member “Planeteers Club” was formed with students from Haji Abdul Awal High School, initiated by Waterkeepers Bangladesh and the Captain Planet Foundation. The workshop that led to the formation of the club was conducted by Mamun Kabir, Manager of the Communications and Advocacy Department at Waterkeepers Bangladesh. Anika Tahsin and Shahriar Shaon, members of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, were also present.
At the end of the event, DHORA, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Buriganga Riverkeeper, Buriganga Nadi Morcha, and the newly formed Planeteers Club organized a plastic waste cleanup campaign at Kholamora Ghat on the banks of the Buriganga River.
