‘India must provide Bangladesh’s due share of freshwater’

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam on Saturday said India must provide Bangladesh with its due share of upstream freshwater to protect the Sundarbans and biodiversity in the country’s southwestern region.
“Salinity levels are also rising simultaneously. To protect the Sundarbans and the region’s biodiversity, India must provide Bangladesh with its due share of freshwater,” he said.
He said reduced upstream water flow was causing siltation in rivers, canals and wetlands, affecting around 54 rivers in the southwestern region.
Faridul said the freshwater crisis could not be resolved merely through talks or diplomatic statements, stressing the need for effective initiatives with India.
He said he had also raised the issue during a recent meeting with the Indian High Commissioner.
The state minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a joint afforestation programme organised by Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and bKash Limited at Solar Park in Khulna’s Sonadanga Residential Area.
He said adequate freshwater inflow from upstream was essential for the natural growth of vegetation in the Sundarbans, including the Sundari tree, particularly where freshwater meets saline water.
“If the natural balance is disrupted by human or national intervention, protecting the Sundarbans will become difficult,” he said.
The state minister also called for strict measures to control pollution from ‘Red Category’ industries operating near the Sundarbans.
He said the government had planned to plant 25 crore trees across the country, with around 3.5 crore already plantedz.
An additional two crore Keora saplings and seeds are ready for planting in coastal areas during December and January, he said, adding that the target was to plant 5.5 crore trees between February this year and February next year.
Faridul said around 120,000 palm trees had been planted this year in Jashore, Magura, Narail, Khulna and Satkhira to help mitigate the impact of lightning strikes.
Increasing the number of tall trees, including palms and coconut trees, could help reduce the risks associated with lightning strikes, he said.
The state minister said the government was implementing various nature-based programmes, including canal excavation, tree plantation, solar power generation, waste management and the introduction of electric buses.
These initiatives were aimed not only at protecting the environment but also at restoring rivers and canals, boosting fisheries resources and reducing damage caused by natural disasters, he said.
He also highlighted plans to involve educational institutions in efforts to curb plastic and polythene pollution.
Initiatives are underway to make educational institutions across the country free from single-use plastics and polythene, he said, adding that discussions had already been held with several institutions, including Jahangirnagar University and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Commending KCC’s tree plantation and beautification initiatives, Faridul said making Khulna a green, clean and liveable city was a collective responsibility.
He said a tree plantation and maintenance initiative had been undertaken in Khulna with support from bKash, including arrangements for maintaining the trees for three years.
KCC Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju presided over the programme.
KCC Chief Executive Officer Rajib Ahmed, Khulna WASA Chairman Mohammad Moniruzzaman Moni, Khulna Divisional Forest Officer Md Imran Ahmed, KMP Deputy Commissioner (South) Md Rezaur Rahman and Khulna Range DIG Office Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Md Sajjadur Rahman Russel, among others, addressed the programme.