Forest and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called upon India to comply with the international river law, upholding a collaborative mentality with its neighboring countries, reports Daily Sun.
Rizwana Hasan, also water resources adviser of the interim government, made the call while talking to reporters after inspecting the vulnerable embankments of Khowai in Habiganj on Friday.
As an upstream country, India is required under international river law to inform downstream countries before releasing water, especially in the absence of a specific agreement. However, this obligation was not upheld by India this time, she said.
“We have learned a lesson from this year’s flood. We will convey our message to our neighbor, India, urging it to inform us before releasing water through the common rivers,” said Rizwana Hasan.
According to the principles of international river law, a neighboring upstream country is required to inform its downstream neighbor before releasing water to minimise the loss of lives and property, she said.
Rizwana Hasan, also a seasoned environmentalist, said that her government will engage in discussions with India so that it ensures early warnings before releasing water from the shared rivers.
About the intensity of this year’s flood, she underscored the need for rescuing the country’s rivers from illegal occupiers before any excavation can take place.
She said the government is working collectively with full force to tackle the ongoing flash flood that adversely affected many districts in the country.
With the help of people from everyone, swift and effective measures are being taken to rescue people from the remote flood-hit areas, she said.
She also expressed her sincere gratitude to the students and common people who are participating spontaneously alongside the government in providing services to the people arriving at the flood shelter centres.
Rizwana Hasan also responded several questions raised by the local journalists after visiting various flood-affected areas in Sadar Upazila of Habiganj.
Initiatives will be undertaken to properly manage the silt coming from upstream, and action will be taken against those involved in illegal dredging and all embankments will be repaired promptly to control flooding, said the adviser.
She also instructed government officials to involve students and local people to accelerate the rescue operations.
After visiting the river erosion-affected areas, the adviser delivered a speech at a meeting held at Chunaruaghat Upazila Parishad auditorium.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Department of Environment, the Forest Department, and the Water Development Board, along with district and upazila-level officials, public representatives, and media personnel.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
