The New Nation - Internet Edition

Plea to raise voices against water aggression

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a seminar here on Saturday underscored the need for raising strong voices against the water aggression to protect the country's sovereignty.

"The sovereignty is facing a dangerous situation due to the water aggression by the neighbouring country," they said while addressing the seminar on "Water aggression: sovereignty of Bangladesh" arranged by National Interest Group (NIG) at Zila Parishad auditorium here this afternoon. Professor Tareque Shamsur Rahman of the International Relations Department of Rajshahi University (RU) was the keynote speaker of the seminar held with Professor Dr AKM Azharul Islam, former Vice-Chancellor of International Islamic University, Chittagong, in the chair.

Professor Dr Sarwar Jahan, Director of the Institute of Environmental Sciences of the RU, made his address of welcome describing various negative impacts on environment due to withdrawal of upstream water by Farakka Barrage.

They said due water share in the Padma River must be ensured for the sake of protecting both the northern and southern regions from desertification along with water salinity. The river is not getting due share of water according to the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India.

Former Fuel Adviser Mahmudur Rahman, columnists Dr Farhad Majher and Ataus Samad, former Director General of the BDR Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, former RU Prof Ebney Golam Samad, RU Prof Shah Habibur Rahman and Advocate Nazmus Sadaat, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Discussants said at least 80 rivers and tributaries out of 230 in the country dried up due to the Farakka Barrage during the past three decades. The mighty Padma River has become a closed water body and is now facing a drying condition due to unilateral withdrawal of water from its upstream point.

The water level is being reduced rapidly and it has been reached to a record lowest mark during the current dry season. A huge number of big shoals have been emerged in the river and its mainstream has split into many tiny and small confluents.

The water flow has gone to a lowest level for the first time this season in comparison to the last 10 years posing a serious threat to environment along with biodiversity and aquatic vegetation.

Various types of crops especially IRRI-Boro paddy and maize are being cultivated on the riverbed. Moreover, the small rivers and tributaries of the Padma River are on a drying condition due to withdrawal of water by Farakka Barrage. The entire northern and southern regions of the country, particularly the vast tract of Barind area, have been facing an ecological imbalance situation due to adverse impact of the gradual drying condition of the river. Following abnormal reduction of water flow, more other major rivers have turned into dying canals, shoals have been emerged in the riverbeds and salinity has been enhanced in the estuarine (sea-belt) areas. As result of that, Bangladesh has been facing a dangerous environmental degradation.

In 1971, the river way was 24,140 kilometers that connected eight per cent areas of the country, but it has been reduced to 3,800 kilometers in the every winter season at present. Speakers pointed out that the Indian authorities have built infrastructures on the upstream of the 54 trans-border rivers to withdraw water. In this context, they said due to the unilateral withdrawal of water, various negative impacts on environment are visible that include untimely flooding, waterlogging, river erosion and ecological degradation.

Meanwhile, they said the ground water table has been lowering in the vast tract of Barind area with the reduction of the water level in the Padma River resulting in nonfunctioning of most of the hand-driven tubewells. Around 80 to 90 per cent shallow tubewells in the area have already become ineffective. Drawing attention of the international agencies concerned in this regard, they said India should remove the water-withdrawal projects on all the trans-border rivers of the two countries.

Fertiliser worth Tk 27 lakh found damaged in cracked vessel

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Fertilizers worth Tk.27 lakhs has been declared as damaged by the authority after damaged after emergency unloading completed from the cracked vessel the MV Sajal 1 on Saturday night.

Cargo and agriculture official sources said that due to damages of 385 metric tons of fertilizers packed in 7,690 sacks; more than 25,600 farmers would be deprived from free supply of fertilizers.

Present value of the damaged fertilisers estimated as 26,95,000 taka as per price of Tk.7 per Kg. of granular Urea and it was planned that Sidr affected every farmer will get 15 Kg granular Urea free of cost from this supply aided by UNFAO.

Mahbub Alam, logistic officer of United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), revealing this facts said that after emergency unloading completed rest 4,450 sacks fertilisers stored at buffer godown in Barisal and 1,100 put on 4 trawlers in good condition and would be stored in the godown within a short time. Agriculture ministry of Bangladesh Government already informed about the incident and will take decision about damaging fertiliser by the carrier vessel, he added.

The cargo master, Enayet Hossain, said they had left Chittagong laden with 662 metric tons of granular Urea packed in 13,240 sacks containing 50kg of granular urea in per sack, at 2:00am Tuesday and reached the Barisal KDC jetty on the west bank of the Kirtankhola at 6:00pm Wednesday.

On the way, the route was rough and due to heavy rolling and less navigability near S S Buoy in Sandip Channel, the hull of the vessel several times dragged with the bottom of the river.

However the vessel reached Barisal KDC godown jetty on Wednesday and at about 3:00pm Thursday, the crew noticed cracks in the hull, which water soaking into the cargo.

The vessel was immediately moved to the east bank of the river on navigation safety grounds and started emergency unloading by employing about 100 laborers.

Two pumps were deployed to flush water out of the vessel and emergency unloading completed on Saturday night.

Cracks found at bottom of fertilizer carrying cargo

Our Correspondent, Barisal

M V Sajol-1, a cargo vessel carrying 13,240 sacks fertilisers with 50 Kg. granular Urea in per sack for Sidr affected areas of southern region endangered due to crack at bottom and anchoring at the bank of Kirtonkhola River started emergency unloading.

Enayet Hossain, master of the cargo, said that they left Chittagong at 2-00 am Tuesday May 13 and reached Barisal KDC Ghat on west bank of Kirtonkhola River at 6-00 pm Wednesday May 14 evening.

At about 3-00 pm Thursday afternoon the crew found cracks at the bottom of the cargo and water started soaking inside the cargo hole.

The vessel was immediately transferred to east bank of the river for safety of the navigation of Barisal port and emergency unloading by engaging bout 100 labors and starting two pumps for removing water and continue the vessel floating was arranged.

Until this report, unloading of the cargo was going on and unloaded fertilizers carried by trawlers piled at agriculture godown at KDC ghat.

Crew and officials said that causes of the accident and damages could be estimated after completion of full unloading within next morning.

9 PSTU students expelled from hall for ragging

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Patuakhali Science and Technology University authority expelled nine students from the hall on Sunday for six months following torturing a newly admitted student in the name of ragging on Saturday night in room no. 206 of Keramat Ali Hall

Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, provost of Keramat Ali Hall and Dr. Abu Haider, registrar of the university acknowledged the fact said that and academic steps were taken against them. Related sources said Rakib Al Faisol, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Md. Shahinoor Parvez, Md. Saiful Islam Faisol, Md.Salauddin,Md. Shamim Ahmed, Md. Pavel Howladar of second semester of agriculture faculty and Tousik Ahmed Tonmoy and S M Rahat of third semester of business administration faculties physically and mentally assaulted Md. Kamruzaman, a newly admitted BBA student at room-206-A of the hall in the name of ragging.