Guests exchange views at a programme organised by the Forum of Environmental Journalists, Bangladesh at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday. — New Age photo

The environmentalists have strongly recommended keeping the international river flows active to save the people from the adverse impacts of climate change, ecological disturbances and environmental degradation.
These recommendations came from a view exchange meeting of Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan and Bangladesh Environment Network on ‘to
work together to protect environment, face climate change and conserve waterbodies’ at the National Press Club in Dhaka Monday morning.
Chairman of FEJB Quamrul Islam Chowdhury chaired the meeting also addressed, among others, by BEN coordinator and BAPA vice president professor Nazrul Islam from USA, Professor Kelly D  Alley from the USA,  Khalequzzaman from USA, BEN Australia coordinator Kamrul Ahsan Khan, Daily New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Mozumder, FEJB general secretary Hassan Hafiz, FEJB members Mrinal Krishna Roy and Rafiqur Rahman and National Press Club senior vice president Kazi Rownak Hossain.
Nazrul of BEN called for pursuing ecological approach to protect the river flows in South Asia and stop all sorts of obstruction including diversion upstream of common rivers.
He observed that Bangladesh was one of the most affected by adversities of the climate change. So the country should take proper initiative to protect the people from the adverse impacts of the climate change.
He said the issue of river flows was most important for Bangladesh as the rivers were vital part of the climate change factor. So, the flow of rivers of the country will have to be non-obstructive to minimise the adverse impacts of the climate change.
Professor Nazrul lamented that despite many sensitisation the people are involved in doing harmful activities against the river flows even the government respective department is converting the High Court order and putting river boundary poles inside the riverbed.
Mostafa Kamal Mojumder said rivers should be flown freely to keep it alive because if the rivers are dead, the serious adverse impacts of climate change will affect the country the most.
Prof Kelly D. Alley said there was irresistible idea in climate change issues. So, political pressure should be created upon the governments of developed and fast developing countries including the USA, China and India to adhere by international treaties including ensuring flows of the rivers for protecting people from the climate change adversities.
Quamrul Chowdhury emphasized that major political parties should include in their election manifestoes environmental, water and climate change issues as important agenda and people should put pressure on the government to take initiative for protection of the country from all adverse impacts of the environmental disorders and climatic changes.
The representatives from different organisations commended the role of BAPA, BEN and FEJB in launching environmental movement in Bangladesh and underscored the need for updating all environment related policies, rules and regulations and enforcement of environmental laws and implementation of policies and programmes with more broader participation of the mass people.