State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has said river and canal dredging and restoration work has begun across the country in line with the government’s election pledge.
He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while inaugurating the dredging of the Dhaleshwari and Louhajang rivers and riverbank protection work in Tangail municipality area at Khudirampur in Korotia union under Tangail Sadar upazila.
He said rivers play a vital role in maintaining environmental balance, but many have become silted up and polluted, adding that the condition of Tangail’s traditional rivers is particularly concerning.
He said restoring natural water flow in the rivers will ease agricultural activities and increase fish resources, which will help improve the livelihoods of local people.
He noted that people once depended on rivers for their livelihoods, but the loss of navigability has limited that opportunity.
Alongside dredging, plans include riverbank protection, construction of walkways and tree plantation programmes, he said, adding that extensive afforestation will be carried out in Tangail as part of the government’s target to plant 250 million trees in five years.
He said strict measures will be taken to prevent industrial waste from entering rivers and a committee will be formed to oversee the work.
Responding to questions from journalists, he said dredging has begun to restore navigability of the rivers in line with long-standing demands of local people.
He warned that illegal occupiers of rivers will be evicted through administrative action.
On the supply of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he said there is sufficient stock of livestock in the country and local farmers will be able to meet demand.
A formal briefing on the issue will be held at the ministry on Sunday, he added.
The inauguration programme, chaired by Tangail Water Development Board Executive Engineer Main Uddin, was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Mohanta, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Shahin Mia, Additional Superintendent of Police Abedul Islam and Tangail district BNP President Hasanuzzamil Shaheen, among others.
