NRCC blames female minister for illegal sand extraction
Staff Reporter :
National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) Chairman Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury has said there is political power behind the river encroachments.
He alleged that a female minister of Chandpur district has linked with those who are extracting sand illegally from the river Meghna.
The NRCC Chairman made the allegation while addressing at a function organised on the occasion of ‘World River Day’ on Sunday.
National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) organised the program titled ‘Bangladesh Rivers: Definition & Number’ at the city’s CIRDAP Auditorium.
“One person has stolen 668 crore cft of sand from the river Meghna.
The financial value of that sand is more than Tk 6,000 crore. His theft was legitimized by paying him a royalty of Tk 267 crore,” Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury said.
Terming the sand looters as ‘hyenas’, the NRCC chairman said that an organized group have attacked the river Meghna whoare trying to lift sand from the river again through hundreds of dredgers.
Without mentioning the name of female minister, Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury said, “It will damage the river, fish and the environment for extracting sand illegally.
The river cannot be protected from them as they have a relationship with a female minister of Chandpur.”
The Karnaphuli River is being sold in the name of leasing, the NRCC Chairman said adding that the Ministry of Shipping, Chattogram Port Authority and District Council are involved in this process.
Additionally Chattogram City Corporation was added last in the process too, he added.
The Karnaphuli is a very important River from the point of view of environment, the NRCC Chairman said and added that the river is also very important economically too.
The river land is being fragmented and killed declaring Special Economic Zones, Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury observed.
Chief guest of the event former Secretary Syed Margub Morshed said that everyone should assist the River Commission to protect the country’s rivers.
Former Deputy Director of the NRCC Akhtaruzzaman Talukdar delivered as the keynote speaker.
“There are 1,008 rivers in the country. Padma is the longest river among them. The length of Padma river is 3,41 km,” he said.
