Government Forms 37-Member Central Cell to Protect Dhaka Rivers

The government of Bangladesh has taken a decisive administrative step to address the severe environmental degradation surrounding the capital city. Authorities have officially formed a 37-member central cell dedicated entirely to halting the ongoing encroachment and pollution of the waterways situated around Dhaka. The primary mandate of this newly established governmental body is to restore the natural navigability of these vital rivers and successfully recover any water bodies that have been illegally occupied by land grabbers over the years.

According to official information released through a formal notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office last Tuesday, the high-level central cell will operate under specific leadership. The newly formed 37-member central committee will be headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister as its designated convenor, ensuring direct oversight from the highest administrative office of the country in these critical environmental restoration efforts.

To ensure thorough operational execution and specialized focus, the newly instituted central cell will function with the assistance of three distinct sub-committees. Furthermore, the overall coordination responsibilities for these extensive river-saving initiatives have been officially assigned to the Bangladesh Navy, which will work alongside various relevant state bodies including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, the Ministry of Shipping, and the Ministry of Planning.

The scope of this comprehensive government initiative specifically targets the vital river networks that encircle the capital metropolis. The waterways designated for protection, pollution control, and complete recovery under this latest administrative directive are the historic Buriganga River, the Turag River, the Shitalakshya River, the Balu River, and the Daleshwari River.

In addition to the central leadership provided by the Prime Minister's Office, the organizational structure includes specific numerical allocations for its subordinate divisions. The operational framework establishes three separate sub-committees, with the first sub-committee comprising seventeen members, the second sub-committee comprising sixteen members, and the third sub-committee comprising fourteen members. These groups will collaborate with agencies such as the Department of Environment, the Local Government Division, and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).