Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, has said that people and government should come together and agree to solve the problems.
Talking to journalists in Noakhali on Monday, she clarified that hilsa is not being sent to India as a gift. It will be exported, with the Bangladesh government receiving the export revenue. She emphasised that the export value is significant and should not be underestimated.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan made the comments after visiting the regulator of Muchhapur closure area in Companiganj, which was damaged by floods last month.
She said that the amount of water that has flowed through this regulator this year is presuming that the regulator has broken because of excess capacity. Step has been taken to investigate the matter as to why the regulator broke in the upstream water in such a short period of time, she added.
The adviser said that it is not possible to prevent the erosion of this region without restoring the broken regulator. However, it is time consuming and expensive. In such a situation, urgent measures are being taken to temporarily prevent further erosion and saline water. Some measures will be taken immediately after taking the opinion of engineering department and locals, she added.
Later, she visited the flood affected areas and consoled the victims and assured them about their rehabilitation. She also attended a public hearing as the chief guest at the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) regarding the severe flooding and regulator breakdown in Noakhali.
About the hilsa issue, Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that although a decision has been made to export hilsa, the fish has not yet left Bangladesh. The price has already increased, so it is not accurate to say prices will rise further due to export. This matter is under the government's consideration, she added.
She said, “Those who seek hilsa have supported anti-discrimination movements from the other side. We must recognise that we have many topics to discuss with our neighbours, and we should not let minor issues hinder dialogue.”
Nazmul Ahsan, secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources; Khandaker Istiaq Ahmed, DC of Noakhali; Munsi Amir Faisal, executive engineer of the Companiganj Water Development Board, and Anwar Hossain Patwary, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Companiganj were present during Rizwana’s visit.
During the visit, Nurul Alam Sikder, convener of the Companiganj upazila BNP, accused Abdul Quader Mirza, the brother of former bridge minister Obaidul Quader, of illegally lifting sand from the Muchhapur closure. In response, the adviser requested Nurul to submit a formal written complaint.
