Amidst a declining availability of cultivable land and a burgeoning population, land demand and prices are on the upswing. Concurrently, encroachments on rivers and canals are exacerbating the issue. Illicit land reclamation from water bodies, often eluding regulatory oversight, is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Furthermore, there is a rising practice of charging rent for land usage that was once freely accessible. In some cases, individuals are diverting river flows through unauthorized dam construction for private fish farming, actions that wield substantial influence. Stay tuned as we delve into the intricate implications of these developments.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, upon assuming power, emphasized the importance of 'saving rivers to save the nation.' In 2019, a vigorous campaign to rescue the rivers was initiated, but it lost momentum for unknown reasons. Currently, two different efforts are underway: one to rescue the rivers and another to reclaim illegally occupied riverbanks. Over the past four years, these initiatives have been primarily focused on the Turag, Buriganga, Balu, and Shitalakhya rivers surrounding the capital, yet the concerned authorities have not been able to complete the recover efforts.

Mohammad Ejaz, the Chairman of the River and Delta Research Center, stated to Bangladesh Pratidin, "We have conducted a survey and identified 1,274 rivers in our country since independence. We have published a list including the names of these rivers. The River Protection Commission recently released a list of 907 encroached rivers. This means that 367 rivers were vanished. We have observed some initiatives after listing 57,000 incidents of river encroaching in 2018. We have visited various regions and found that the rate of river encroachment has increased after publishing the list. Consequently, the list of encroachers remains partial."

Our own reporters and correspondents have uncovered stark images of river encroachment. Influential individuals in Sirajganj are constructing shops and houses by encroaching upon the two banks of the Garadaha River. They have rented out the houses, charging a monthly fee of Tk 8,000 (around $95) from a person named Abdul Salam. Abdul Momin, another resident, stated that he has not encroached upon the river but has built two shops and is doing a business of selling maize after taking a monthly rent of Tk 2,000 (around $24) from a person named Abdul Salam. If the Water Development Board removes us, we will leave. In the same market, Jinnah disclosed that he has rented the shop from Awami League leader Fanibhushan Poddar for Tk 2,000 (around $24) per month. On the other hand, Ripal, the owner of Bihong Traders, revealed that he purchased the place from his father-in-law, who bought it from the Water Development Board. Mahbubur Rahman, the Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, stated, "I have no information about the Garadaha River. I don't know if encroachment is happening or not. Necessary measures will be taken after an investigation."

In Barishal, countless establishments and business enterprises have sprung up by encroaching upon both banks of the Palordi River, causing the river to shrink significantly. Prominent figures in the area, including Jakir Hossen Sharif, the President of the jubo League of that area, Shah Alam Goni, the former Vice President of Ward BNP, and Rajjak Hawladar, an Awami League leader, have constructed establishments along the banks of the Palordi River. Influential businessman Khalek Munshi has also built a dal (pulse) mill in the region. As a result, more than a hundred illegal structures have emerged.

Ruhul Amin, an encroacher on the Gournadi Bandar river, claims that he did not encroach upon the river but built shops on the sandbanks that surfaced in the river. Jakir Sharif, the President of the jubo League of that area, stated that he did not encroach upon the river, and he and his business partner, Mobarak Hossen, are the owners of Sharif a mill.

Farhad hossain, the son of Khalek Munshi, the owner of lental mill, explained that they are only owners of the mill and have constructed a single concrete floor beside the mill for drying lental. Approximately 10-15 feet of the floor could be within the riverbed.

Saied Mahbub Khan, the Executive Officer of Gournadi Upazila, informed that several cases related to the eviction of illegal establishments along the riverbank are pending in the district administrator's office. Once the district administration issues orders, the illegal structures will be evicted.

Encroachments on both banks of the Khakdan River in Barguna have led to the construction of residential and business establishments. The launch terminal of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) is situated in the northern part of the Press Club Road on the southern bank of the river. Their employees have built houses on this land. Some of these houses have also been sold. Instead of evicting those who encroached upon the Khakdan River unlawfully, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) office has allowed them to lease the land in exchange for millions of taka.

In Narayanganj, from February 2019 to June 17, 2021, a campaign was conducted to remove 2,475 illegal structures along the Shitalakhya River. However, due to the absence of a magistrate, the eviction campaign remained suspended for almost one and a half years. Then, in March of the following year, with the appointment of a magistrate, more than 700 additional illegal structures were demolished. Nevertheless, it has been reported that in the dockyard and residential areas of Narayanganj, several dockyard and boundary-setting pillars are not being installed due to the presence of some structures.

On the banks of the Korotoya River in Bogura, numerous illegal structures including small and large buildings as well as business establishments have been erected. Rent is being collected from these shops. Additionally, in some areas, influential individuals are constructing buildings within the river itself, using boundary walls. Currently, there are more than 28 spots along the riverbank where multi-story buildings are being constructed, but no one is taking notice, according to locals. Due to pollution, encroachment, excavation, and damming for fish farming, the river is now nearly lifeless. Bogura District Administrator Md. Saiful Islam stated that the district administration has conducted several eviction campaigns against illegal structures on both sides of the Korotoya River. A list of illegal occupants has been compiled, and actions will be taken accordingly.

The prices of land have multiplied several times due to the Padma Bridge, Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, and Dhaka-Chattogram highway passing through the heart of Munshiganj district. Taking advantage of this opportunity, celebrations have begun for the occupation of land along the banks of the Padma, Meghna, and Dhaleshwari rivers. In the vicinity of Muktarpur Old Ferry Ghat in the district city and nearly one and a half kilometers on both the east and west sides of the river, various structures have sprung up illegally.

The banks of the Dhaleshwari River are illegally occupied by various industrial establishments. In the area from Noyagaon in the city to Firingi Bazar in the Panchasar Union, almost three kilometers of riverbanks are occupied by over a hundred business establishments. In the northern part of the district city, in the area known as Kalidas Sagar, influential individuals have first gradually filled the river with waste and then encroached upon it with sand.

In the Gazaria area, the banks of the Meghna River have been occupied, and various resorts and business establishments have been constructed. Additionally, there is a significant risk of encroachment along the Kavoli River, Sabur River, Turag River, Dhaleshwari River, and various canals, as well as the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.

According to the report of the National River Conservation Commission, the country's agriculture and rural economy are dependent on these rivers, canals, wetlands, and ponds. In addition to preventing river encroachment, regular dredging is necessary to maintain these water bodies to sustain Bangladesh's agriculture and rural economy.

Monjur Ahmed Chowdhury, the Chairman of the River Commission, stated to Bangladesh Pratidin that river encroachers wield significant influence. Many of the government institutions responsible for river conservation are not heeding the commission's advice. Furthermore, many local administration officials involved in freeing rivers face various dangers and obstacles. Career concerns have hindered the effective functioning of the administration. Several government institutions have also encroached upon rivers, and they lack the power of the commission for prosecution. As a result, they are proceeding cautiously.

​(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 10 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)