BAPA organized a Baral River restoration meeting on January 15 at the Charghat Upazila Model Mosque. The Baral River, which begins at the Ganges-Chalan Beel confluence, historically connected multiple river systems and sustained agriculture across four districts. It has been systematically degraded by sluice gates built in 1984 and 1995, fragmenting it into disconnected segments. Chaired by BAPA Charghat Vice President Sirajul Islam and attended by district officials and political leaders, the meeting focused on concrete restoration steps rather than debating a mega-project.
Dr. Nazrul Islam emphasized that restoring the Baral requires political will, legal enforcement, and grassroots monitoring, stating the river is “inextricably linked with the life and livelihood of this region” and faces an existential crisis. He argued that local awareness and action are essential alongside administration efforts. The meeting stressed that restoration centers on the concrete step of sluice gate removal, a reversible action with proven benefits. This aligns with Environment Adviser Rizwana Hasan’s earlier announcement during a visit that the Charghat sluice gate is “no longer necessary” and will be removed, confirming the interim government’s commitment to implementing the 2019 High Court ruling recognizing rivers’ inherent rights to flow.
