Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Speakers at a press conference on Tuesday (Mar 31) urged the government to take immediate steps for dredging the silted rivers of south-western part in the country and open Tidal River Management (TRM) scheme to resolve the perennial waterlogging problem to mitigate the sufferings of affected people during the rainy season of every year in Khulna, Satkhira and Jessore districts.

They demanded immediate digging of Kapotakkho, Betna,  Maricchap, Sapmara, Labonnamayi, Galgheshia, Kholpetua, Salta, Hamkura, Bhairab, Upper Bhadra, Buri Bhadra, Horihor, Shibsha, Kodulia, Teka-Muktesshari, Kodulia Rivers, which have already lost navigability, to ensure smooth water flow. They also demanded implementation of Tidal Water Management (TRM) scheme to enhance water flow and prevent waterlogging.

The speakers also criticized the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for their failure to keep the river channel smooth and activated for rapid removal of rain and flood waters during the rainy season to protect the locality.
Other demands raised from the event include the punishment of corrupt officials of the BWDB, exemption of agricultural loans for the small and marginal farmers of the areas and enactment of the draft Disaster Management Act.
The discussant alleged that, influential encroachers have built houses, shops, clubs, factories and fish farms on thousands acres of newly emerged lands on the banks of these rivers while so-called fish farmers often set up bamboo barriers there, hastening death of river. They have urged the government to take immediate steps to dredge these rivers and free it from the illegal encroachers.
Central Pani Committee and Uttaran, a non-government organization arranged the press conference titled “Demanding Tidal River Management (TRM) to resolve waterlogging in Greater Khulna Region” at Khulna Press Club under Sadar thana in the city.
President of Central Pani Committee Principal (Retd) Abdul Matleb Sarder read out the written statement. ‘Fighting water logging, climate change and drinking water crisis’ on a slogan, among others Member Hasem Ali Fakir and Rezaul Karim, Sheikh Selim Akter Swapon, Mir Zillur Rahman, Sheikh Mosharraf Hossain, Md Mostafizur Rahman, Md Al Amin Molla, Dilip Kumar Sana, Golam Hossain, were spoke on the occasion.
They also said that reasons for water-logging need to identified and the problem has to be solved through implementing a realistic project. They emphasized taking short, medium and long-term plans and implementing them through coordinated efforts.