Time to declare Turag dead

Shrubs and trees are planted on “a piece of land” on the occupied Turag hiding an earth-moving equipment near Kamarpara Bridge in Tongi. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq

https://www.facebook.com/pinjory.biswasthe years, The Daily Star has repeatedly and tirelessly raised its voice against the slow but certain death of the rivers around Dhaka due to encroachment, dumping of pollutants and lack of dredging. The government, parliament and judiciary also responded to our concerns, taking many an initiative in the last seven years.

But nothing could stop this systematic destruction of four rivers --Turag, Buriganga, Balu and Shitalakhya -- the lifelines of the capital. Powerful, rich and ruthless, these river-gobblers have no difficulty manoeuvring the legal system and the land administration, and “managing” law enforcement agencies. They remain unstoppable with the Turag fast approaching to be history.

In this report, Tawfiq Ali details the persistent neglect of our river custodian in c