Local people and young people in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia are determined to protect the beauty and biodiversity of the Hisna river. Under the banner "Hisna River Protection", they have recently taken important steps to save the river from pollution.

For a long time some unscrupulous traders and passers-by have dumped rubbish under the bridge, turning it into a dump. The smell made it hard for people to pass, and heaps of carelessly dumped waste built up, blocking the river's natural flow and polluting the environment. The situation grows worse in the rainy season. To tackle the problem, local people and youth drew up a plan.

Their activities include painting the bridge and putting up awareness banners and festoons around the bridge and along the riverbank, with messages such as "Do not dump rubbish here", "The river is our national asset" and "Build a clean environment". Young volunteers also visit the area regularly and talk to people about to dump rubbish.

One of the organisers, Md Hossain Shahid, said: "When I first saw how dirty it was under the bridge, I felt very bad. It felt as if we ourselves were ruining our own place. From that thought, a few younger brothers and friends and I decided to take this initiative. We want our river and the area under the bridge to be clean, so our future generations can grow up in a beautiful environment. We will not stop at putting up banners."

He said: "We want to build a volunteer team of local people and youth who will take part in regular clean-up drives. We believe collective effort can bring lasting change. Our main aim is to raise awareness. Many people dump rubbish here without knowing or thinking. We want to make them understand how much harm it does to the environment. We are also planning to distribute leaflets."

Local residents have welcomed the initiative, believing such awareness campaigns will gradually build interest in cleanliness and protecting the environment.

Md Mahi Uddin Munna said: "We have seen that people are also forced to dump rubbish anywhere because there are not enough bins. We will ask the local authorities to put some bins in the area, which may reduce the problem a lot. Young people are always concerned about the environment, and this initiative has given us a chance to turn that concern into action. I hope many young people will be encouraged by us."

Rizvi Ahmed Tushar said: "The Hisna is the life of our area, and protecting it from pollution is a moral duty. We were worried to see rubbish being dumped under the bridge, so we started this clean-up and awareness campaign. You could not walk under the bridge; the smell was suffocating. Since the banners went up, some change can be seen. But it is everyone's responsibility to keep the place clean and make others aware."

Md Ismail Hossain said: "When a few of us friends saw the sorry state under the bridge, we could not stay silent. So many childhood memories are tied to this river. It cannot be accepted that it has become a rubbish dump. Our main aim is to awaken love and a sense of responsibility among local people. We want everyone to see the river as their own and come forward to keep it clean."

Locals say the success of the initiative does not depend on awareness alone. Regular monitoring by the local administration and municipal authority and proper waste management infrastructure are also essential, they say, expressing hope that with collective effort the river can be saved from pollution and a healthy environment built.

Tea seller Md Kalam Hossain said: "Much of our business depends on the environment here. If it is dirty under the bridge and it smells, why would customers come? If people become aware from the festoons and keep the river clean, our business will do better."

Grocer Md Sahabul Islam said: "Look, if the river is well, our business will be well. If the river water is clean, people will come, walk around and buy. If these festoons open people's minds a little and they take care of the river, we will all benefit in the end."

Such spontaneous civic initiatives set a bright example for environmental protection, and it is hoped that people in other areas will follow it.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.