A coastal river conference was held in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday, with speakers calling for river protection, restoration of natural flow, and the revival of river-based economic opportunities to safeguard the coastal region.
The conference, organised by the Bangladesh River Travellers’ Group, took place at a hotel in Kalatali, Cox’s Bazar, in the morning. Speakers urged collective action to protect the Bakkhali, Matamuhuri and other coastal rivers.
Cox’s Bazar International University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Moktar Ahmed attended as chief guest. Special guests included BGC Trust University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Manjurul Kibria, former Cox’s Bazar district education officer Nasir Uddin and Advocate Ramiz Uddin.
Bangladesh River Travelers’ Group president Advocate Mohammad Nuruzzaman Shipon chaired the event, and coastal journalist Rafiqul Islam Montu moderated it.
The organisation’s founding president, Md Monir Hossain, called on people to protect the country’s rivers under the slogan ‘Save the coast, restore its potential’.
Speakers said coastal rivers were not merely channels for water flow; they were closely connected to the environment, biodiversity, agriculture, fisheries, navigation and the livelihoods of local communities.
They said disruptions to rivers’ natural flow affected both ecosystems and people, making river conservation essential not only for environmental protection but also for the future of coastal communities.
The speakers stressed the need for coordinated initiatives to protect the Bakkhali and Matamuhuri rivers and other waterways in the region. They also called for preventing pollution, maintaining natural river flows and increasing public awareness.
They said government initiatives alone would not be sufficient without the participation of residents, elected representatives, environmental activists, educational institutions and other stakeholders.
The conference called for collective efforts to maintain environmental balance, conserve biodiversity and restore the potential of river-based activities for future generations.
More than 100 river enthusiasts from different upazilas of Cox’s Bazar attended the conference.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Tarekur Rahman
