Participants at a public hearing in the town yesterday urged taking effective measures to save Korotoa, Bangali and Nagar rivers from pollution, encroachment and illegal sand lifting.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in cooperation with Association for Land Reform Forum and Development, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon and Water Right Forum, Bogura, held the programme at Bogura Parjatan Motel.

A good number of stakeholders, including farmers, fishermen and others who are affected by mindless river grabbing, illegal sand lifting and pollution, expressed their grievance and gave suggestions during the public hearing.

“My 24 decimals of land has already gone into the bed of the Nagar river as illegal sand traders extracted huge quantities of sand from the river near my cropland. Many people like me are in fear of landslides. If we complain to the administration, the sand traders threaten us,” said Abdur Rahim of Dupchanchia upazila in Bogura.

Nityanando Das, a fisherman from Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha, said fishes are no longer available in the Korotoa as the river has lost its flow.

A lot of small and big industrial units, operating without any clearance from the environment department, have hardly any effluent treatment plant (ETP) and the factory wastes mixed with chemicals pollute croplands and river water, several participants said.

Additional District Magistrate Alimul Razib said they are preparing a list of the river grabbers to take action against them soon.

Bogura Zila Parishad Chairman Mokbul Hossain urged the authorities concerned to set up river demarcation pillars on the rivers to stop grabbing.

Bela Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan said they are working to create awareness among people so that the authorities concerned feel the urge to take rapid steps to save the rivers.

Several government officials from Public Works Department, environment department and local administrative bodies also spoke on the issue.