Khowai under threat

Environmentalists and civil society members at a rally in Khowaimukh area of Habiganj district town on Friday demanded immediate steps to save the Khowai river from mindless encroachment and pollution.

At the programme organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's (BAPA) Habiganj unit, Merchants' Association of Habiganj and Khowai River Waterkeeper, they placed five-point demand including punishment of those responsible for grabbing the river land and polluting it.

Some influential people grabbed land on the riverbanks during the last few years while lack of garbage management system in Habiganj town has led to serious pollution of the river, Ekramul Wadud, president of BAPA's Habiganj unit.

Mindless garbage dumping near Khowai bridge in Habiganj municipality area adds to the river pollution. Photo: Star

Human wastes from open toilets on the riverbanks and others across the town find their ways into the river through drains and canals, he said.

Due to irrigation problem, farmers in the nearby villages have abandoned paddy farming and switched to vegetable cultivation but it is also hampered in the dry session due to lack of water, Tofazzal Sohel of Khowai River Waterkeeper said in his keynote presented at the rally.

Pollution has taken a serious turn as chemical wastes from small factories, on or near the banks of the Khowai, are left to the water body, he said.

Siddique Harun, a social activist of Habiganj, said setting of suitable garbage dumping spots and action against land grabbing are essential to save the precious water body and protect the town from waterlogging.

During this correspondent's visit to the banks of the river in Habiganj Sadar upazila, several farmers, mostly marginal and landless ones, said the river contains very little water in the dry season and they face problems in cultivating crops.

Shafiul Alam, 42, an inhabitant of Alampur village on the Old Khowai river in Habiganj Sadar upazila, said, “My grandfather told stories of the days when he regularly swam in this river that was wide and contained clean water.”

“But now we don't like to even walk beside the river as its water is too dirty and garbage dumped on its bank spread strong stench,” he said.

Tofazzal Sohel, an activist of Khowai River Waterkeeper, swims in the river with a message urging steps for keeping it clean and flowing throughout the year. Photo: Star

Tahsin Bilwal Ariyan, a Class III student of Habiganj Government High School said he was amused to see old photos of the river collected by his uncle.

“Earlier the Khowai river was so nice, but now its looks dirty,” he said.

Contacted, Touhidul Islam, executive engineer of WDB in Habiganj, said, “We are preparing a list of grabbed lands on the Khowai river to take initiative for recovering the lands.”