News Desk: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry
of Water Resources today stressed the importance of protecting the country's rivers and recovering those
from encroachers.
“Laws would be enforced strictly in protecting the country’s rivers,” she said adding that cooperation from
public is critical to this end.
The water resources adviser made the remarks while speaking at a special event at Bangladesh Tourism
Corporation here marking the World Rivers Day-2024 and handing over the River Award-2024 to the
recipients.
Addressing the function, Rizwana mentioned that cost-effective plans would be developed to restore the
rivers and a campaign against polythene and plastic would be launched soon to protect environment.
“Rivers are not only natural resources but also deeply connected to our culture and livelihoods," she said
while highlighting the importance on pollution-free rivers aimed at ensuring a healthy environment for
future generations.
In this connection, Rezwana urged all to work together to protect and clean the rivers.
At the event, three individuals were honored with the Mark Angelo River Award- 2024 for their significant
contributions to river conservation.
This year, in the individual category, Mukit Majumdar Babu, Chairman of Prakriti O Jibon Foundation,
received the award.
In the research category, Mohammad Ejaz, Chairman of the River and Delta Research Center, was
recognized. In journalism category, Iftekhar Mahmud, Special Correspondent of Prothom Alo, was
honoured with this award.
Presided over by Muhammad Monir Hossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh River Foundation, the event was
addressed, among others, by Nayoka Martinez Backström, First Secretary for Environment and Climate
Change at the Swedish Embassy, Prof. Dr. Abdur Rab Molla, Chairman of Nature Conservation
Management, Prof. Dr. Md. Manzurul Kibria, Coordinator of Halda River Research Laboratory; Eng. Md.
Habibur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Nodi Poribrajak Dal, H.M. Sumon, Chairman of the
Environment and River Conservation Development Foundation, Sheikh Didarul Islam Chowdhury,
Secretary of Karnafuli Protection Council and AKM Arif Uddin, Director of BIWTA.
A documentary on the rivers of Bangladesh was also screened at the event. Environmentalists,
academicians and members of civil society were present, among others.
News Desk: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources today stressed the importance of protecting the country's rivers and recovering those from encroachers.
