Save Ganges dolphins to save rivers: Sabre

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Tuesday emphasized the need to protect Ganges dolphins, with an aim to save the ecosystem of the country’s rivers.

“Ganges dolphin is the main predator in rivers. If the dolphins disappear from the country’s rivers, the river ecosystem will change, which will ultimately affect our food,” he said at the opening session of a three-day conference, reports BSS. .

In collaboration with the World Bank, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Bangladesh Forest Department jointly organized the First International Conference on the Management and Conservation of the Ganges River Dolphins at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.

Speaking as chief guest, Saber Hossain said that dolphin is a nature-based indicator of rivers and if the condition of dolphins in a river is understood, the ecology of the river will be realized.

He said if the dolphins cannot function in river water, it would mean water pollution is endangering the river’s ecosystem and affecting aquatic animals.

Saber Hossain recalled that Bangladesh is a lower country as most of the rivers originate from outside the country and said intergovernmental cooperation is urgent to ensure water flow and depth of the trans-boundary rivers.

He said the community should be involved in saving rivers, with the aim of benefiting nature, saying: “The Transboday approach will be important… we must be respectful and work together.”

The session was chaired by Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury and was addressed by Environment Minister Dr. Farhina Ahmed, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Syud Amer Ahmed, BWDB Director General Muhammad Amirul Haque Bhuiyan and BIWTA Chief Engineer. (Dredging) Rokibul Islam Talukder.

Divisional Forest Officer of Chittagong North Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Ramesh Kumar Yadav of Koshi Tappa Wildlife Reserve of Nepal and Lead Environment Specialist and Regional Standards Coordinator at the World Bank Joe B Tuyor made separate powerpoint presentations on the Ganges dolphins.