The government is drafting a master plan to initially protect the rivers Buriganga, Balu, Sitalakhya and Balu in Dhaka and the Karnaphuli in Chattogram from pollution and encroachment.
As part of the move, an inter-ministerial meeting was held at the conference room of the Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Ministry on Thursday.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam was presiding over the meeting.
He hinted that the draft master plan could be finalised by next month.
"There will be another meeting next month. We are hopeful we will be able to finalise the draft master plan to save our rivers," he said.
The meeting also discussed recycling of urban waste, improvement of environment, management of household waste, etc.
He said that the government would draw up three, five and ten-year plans to protect the country's rivers.
The master plan will also look into issues including the sewerage system and waste management.
The minister said most of the country's rivers were polluted and grabbed in the absence of proper monitoring.
He said that a committee was formed to implement the master plan.
There would be aforestation on the recovered land of the river banks.
Regarding the budget for the master plan, he said that it would be decided on completion of the plan.
He underlined the need for concerted efforts to protect rivers from encroachment.
On waterlogging during the rainy season in the capital, he said it had been age-old.
He, however, expressed hope that they would implement all the options to give the city dwellers a relief by keeping the problem at a tolerable level.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk, representatives of Dhaka north and south city corporations, mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Selina Hayat Ivi were present among others.
