Land acquisition at this pace could leave no space for future graves, Advisor Fouzul warns

Road Transport Advisor Md Fouzul Kabir Khan has warned that if land acquisition for bridges and roads continues at the current pace, there will be a future shortage of land for crop cultivation, industrial production, and even burial sites.

He also commented that the increasing number of bridges in Bangladesh has led to the use of rivers for waste disposal instead of transporting passengers and goods.

Sharing his recent experience during a visit to the Payra 1320 MW Thermal Power Plant, the advisor expressed his concerns in a Facebook post on Sunday.

He said when it comes to domestic travel, his preferred mode of transportation is the river route, followed by rail, air, and lastly, road.

Fouzul, however, lamented that it has now become difficult to use river routes due to the lack of good-quality launches.

He claimed that the importance of river transport is diminishing.

The advisor said, “Instead of carrying passengers and goods, our rivers are now used for waste disposal. Now, in Dhaka’s Sadarghat, we have to cover our noses with handkerchiefs while walking.

“Is this our fate? Will our rivers only be used for transporting waste?”

Reflecting on his visit to the power plant, Fouzul said: “On the last weekend, I went to visit the two coal-based power plants in Payra. I had planned to travel by launch through Patuakhali but was informed that there were no good launches, so road travel was recommended instead.

“There used to be good launches, but since the Padma Bridge, they’ve stopped running due to a lack of passengers.

“I insisted on taking the launch via Barishal, though this would add 1 to 1.5 hours to my journey.”

He continued, “That’s how I went and returned. Even here, the passenger shortage due to the Padma Bridge was evident.

“The launch we returned on the 15th of March had its next schedule only on the 19th. Other launches might run in between.

“On my way to Payra, we crossed several rivers. These rivers were so beautiful, and calm, with gentle waves in the light breeze, yet not a single boat or water vessel was in sight.

“When will the hunger for roads and bridges end?”

He concluded, "Yet, these rivers once served as our natural highways. At one time, it was possible to travel from Dhaka's Hotel Sonargaon to Sirajganj by river.”