India not complying with international water discharge norms: Environment Adviser

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Water Resources of the Interim Government has commented that India has not followed the international rules regarding the release of water from the upstream to the downstream countries.

On Friday (August 23), he made this comment while visiting the bridge area of ​​the flood-hit Mashajan Khoai River in Habiganj in response to questions from journalists.

The environmental adviser said, if there is abnormal rainfall in the upstream country and there is a need to release water, then the downstream country needs to be informed in advance. So that the downstream people can prepare themselves and people can be evacuated. But this time India did not comply with this notification. This is also stated in our agreement with India.

The environmental advisor said that the message has been given to India in case there is a question of releasing water from all the rivers that have the same learning from this issue, so that Bangladesh is informed in advance. Chief advisor. Yunus reported the matter to the Indian Embassy. The Ministry of External Affairs is working to prevent such a situation in the future.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, natural problems will occur, but it must be ensured that man-made problems do not occur due to not being informed. Rivers should be kept as rivers to keep the country free from floods. Dams should be protected.

The advisor visited the Khoai river dam on foot near Gopaya and Rangargao villages in the area. At that time, hundreds of people informed him that the dam was damaged due to sand and soil excavation. He listens carefully to everyone.

Before this, he exchanged views with the heads of various government departments and people of various professions in the district. Habiganj Acting Deputy Commissioner Prashant Som Mahan, Superintendent of Police Akhter Hossain, Army Lt. Colonel Nazir and Major Ishrat. The environmental adviser was informed about the flood situation in Habiganj from everyone.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan visited the grave of her father former minister Syed Mohibul Hasan at Narpati Habili of Sadar Union of Chunarughat Upazila, her ancestral village. Later he visited the shrine of Syed Nasir Uddin of Sipahsala in Murarband.