Rights of Rivers
Program Report: Waterkeepers Bangladesh
World Rivers Day is an annual event established in 2005 to raise awareness about the importance of rivers. It is typically celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September. The day aims to promote river conservation through various activities, focusing on issues like pollution, habitat preservation, and sustainable water management. It encourages global participation to protect and preserve these vital water resources. In order to sensitize the masses, stakeholder, civil society and the authority concerned, Waterkeepers Bangladesh observed the day in different places across the country. Including the capital city Dhaka, we organized a bunch of programs and activities to observe the occasion in 12 different places of our country. The brief of the program detailed below.
01. Dhaka:
At 10:30 am in Dhaka, a seminar called “River is a living entity” was organized at Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club on 24th September 2023. The seminar was jointly organized by Waterkeepers Bangladesh with other organizations. In addition to that Waterkeepers Bangladesh organized an art competition among the children on 23rd September to observe the day at Kendriyo Kochikachar Mela.
On 23rd September at Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela, Dhaka.
On 24th September at National Press Club, Dhaka.
News Link – www.bangladeshpost.net
2. Pekua, Cox’s Bazar
A Huma Chain, Jele Utsav and Baul Gaan held on the occasion of 24th September of World Rivers Day 2023 at Pekua, Cox’s Bazar. Waterkeepers Bangladesh, National River Alliance and Save Nature Save Life Foundation organized the event by the bank of a river.
News Link – Jai Jai Din
3. Kutubdia
World Rivers Day’23 has been celebrated on the island of Kutubdia in the Cox Sea to increase the survival of the river-canals with the slogan “The River is a living entity, lets protect it”. In the morning at 10 am on September 24, in the area adjacent to Pilatkata canal, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, National River Alliance and Kubdia Deep Surokkha Andolan organized a human chain and mass gathering to form propagate the right of rivers.
News Link – www.ekusheysangbad.com
4. Paikgacha, Khulna
On Sunday, September 24, 2023, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, National River Alliance, Sundarbans, Coast Protection Movement, and conscious organizations organized the program at the Anirban Library auditorium in Paikgacha, Khulna district. The leaders of the environmental organizations have demanded to take effective steps to ensure the normal flow of the Kapotaksha River.
News Link – https://www.ekusheysangbad.com/country/news/407158 https://patradoot.net/2023/09/24/481662.html
05. Barguna
The leaders of various local social organizations including Waterkeepers Bangladesh have demanded the cancellation of river leases and the eviction of illegal structures on the banks of the Khakdon river. The speakers said these things in a human chain program organized by Waterkeepers Bangladesh, National River Alliance, Poribeshn Andolan, Human Rights Protection Committee, BELA, and Nature and Life Club at Barguna Press Club premises at 10 am on Sunday, demanding 5 points to protect Khakdon river.
News Link – https://www.bd24live.com/bangla/710326#:~:
06. Maheshkhali
Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Jatiyo Nodi Jot, Kohelia River Protection Committee, and Maheshkhali Nagorik Andolon collectively celebrated World Rivers Day 23. Rallies and human chains were formed on this occasion on September 24 at 10 am. This human chain action took place in Babur Dighir Par in Moheskhali Upazila demanding the protection and restoration of the Kohelia River.
News Link – https://dailyagamirsongbad.com/news/66862/
07. Kalapara (Patuakhali)
World River Day 2023 was celebrated at Kalapara in Patuakhali. The human bond was held at Kalapara Press Club Chattar at 11 am on Sunday with the theme that the “River is a living entity, let’s Protect its rights”. At this time, the speakers sought the intervention of the administration to keep the river free from filling, encroachment and pollution in order to keep the river alive. Later a discussion meeting was held at the Kalapara Press Club auditorium. Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Jatiyo Nodi Jot, Kalapara Press Club and Amra Kalapara Bashi jointly organized this program.
New Link-
https://www.ajkerbangladesh.com.bd/country-news/2023/09/24/144383 https://desherkantha.com/news/152238
08. Mongla (Bagerhat)
Pashur River Waterkeeper, Badabon Songho, and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon undertook different activities to observe World Rivers Day 2023 in Mongla, Bagerhat. Cleaning Campaign, River-related songs, Discussions and sit-in protests were among the activities where the leaders and activists demanded encroachment-free and clean Pashur River. They also reiterate the theme of the World Rivers Day 23.
News Link – https://www.dailyprottoy.com/%E0%A
09. Habiganj
Khowai River Waterkeeper, Habiganj Charukala Academy, and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon organized an art competition called “Chobi Dekhe Nodi Chini”[1] in order to observe World Rivers Day 2023 at 11:00 on 24th of September. The participants illustrated the shabby and dilapidated picture of the rivers that convey a strong narrative of the insight of the children. The activists demanded immediate action against illegal encroachers of the rivers and canals.
News Link – https://www.risingbd.com/bangladesh/news/521450
10. Patharghata
On the Day of “World Rivers Day`23”, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Patharghata Upokul Surokkha Andolon organized a Human chain at the Nilima Point at 10:00 am. The speaker raised their voice against the filling of the rivers and canals. They demanded the immediate initiative to stop river encroachment. Later, they planted some seeds of the palm trees on the bank of Bishkhali River.
https://www.jugerkonthosor.com/14105
https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/environment/397698
https://www.jugerkonthosor.com/14105
11. Cox’s Bazar Sadar
Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Jatiyo Nadi Jot, Green Cox’s Bazaar Shastho O Poribesh Unnyan Foundation, and Nodi Poribrajok dal jointly organized a human chain on the bank of Backkhali River on 24th of September to observe the World Rivers Day 2023. The speakers and activists demanded just and equitable treatment of the waterbodies and wetlands.
12. Taltoli
Keeping the slogan “Rights of Rivers”, World River Day was observed at Taltali in Barguna by raising awareness to protect the rivers and canals and demanding to keep them free from encroachment. On Sunday (September 24) around 11 o’clock, a human chain was held at Shubo Sandhya beach of the upazila organized by Waterkeepers Bangladesh. Activists and local people call upon the stakeholders to protect the rivers.
News Link – https://www.jaijaidinbd.com/wholecountry/397902