Today 21/09/24 at 11.00 am at Tourism Corporation (Agargaon) Auditorium on the initiative of Bangladesh River Foundation and World Rivers Day Headquarters.
 Three Marc Angelo River Awards were presented on the occasion of World Rivers Day 2024. These three river warriors are, 1) Prakriti Bandhu Mukit Majumdar Babu, chairman of Prakriti and Jeevan Foundation (individual category), 2) Mohammad Ejaz, chairman of research organization River and Delta Research Center (research category) and 3) Prothom Alo’s special representative Iftekhar Mahmud. Journalism category). Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honorable Advisor to the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources of the Interim Government was present as the chief guest in the event under the chairmanship of Md. Munir Hossain Chairman Environment and River Development Foundation. The first secretary of the Swedish Embassy Nyoka Martinez Beckströms, Professor Dr. Md. Manjurul Kibria were present as special guests. Md. Shafiq Dhali, Mostafizur Rahman Shamim of River Canal and Environment Protection Movement and leaders of various environmental organizations were present among others.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, said that the rivers of Bangladesh must be protected and the encroached rivers must be restored. Strict enforcement of the law will be initiated on target. People’s cooperation is needed in this activity. He said that cost-effective plans will be formulated to de-pollute the river. Campaign against polythene plastic will begin.
The Water Resources Advisor said these things in a special event organized by Bangladesh Tourism Corporation on September 21 on the occasion of World River Day 2024 and River Award 2024.
The water resources advisor said that rivers are not only natural resources but also closely related to our culture and livelihood. As part of ensuring a healthy environment for future generations, rivers must be de-polluted. He also said that everyone should work together to protect and de-pollute the river.
At the ceremony, three individuals who have made significant contributions to the river were awarded the Marc Angelo River Award 2024. This year, Mark Angelo River Award was given to Mukit Majumdar Babu, Chairman of Prakriti and Jiban Foundation, Mohammad Ejaz, Chairman of Research Institute River and Delta Research Center, and Iftekhar Mahmud, Special Representative of Prothom Alo, in Journalism Category.
Under the chairmanship of Bangladesh River Foundation Chairman Muhammad Monir Hossain, first secretary of Swedish Embassy for environment and climate change Nayoka Martinez Backstrom, chairman of organizing organization Nature Conservation Management Prof. Dr. Abdur Rob Molla, coordinator of Halda River Research Laboratory, Prof. Dr. Md. Manjurul Kibriya, President of the Bangladesh River Navigation Team Engineer Md. Habibur Rahman, Environment and River Protection Foundation Chairman HM Sumon, Karnaphuli Protection Council Secretary Sheikh Didarul Islam Chowdhury and BIWTA Director AKM Arif Uddin.
Documentary films made on the rivers of Bangladesh were shown in the event. Besides, various levels of environmentalists, academicians and civil society representatives were present.
