Speakers at a discussion on Sunday said that different departments of the government were implementing several projects detrimental for the environment of haors of the country.
They also said that unplanned and uncoordinated development works pushed ecology and ecosystem of the highly potential area of the country in danger.
In cooperation with the Amra Nari and the Marine Journalists Network, the Department of Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development organised the discussion at its office in the capital.
Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development department director general Md Akhtaruzzaman said that as a dedicated agency for haors and wetlands, the department must be consulted by the agencies for any development work in haors.
Many agencies, including the Local Government Engineering Department and the Roads and Highways Department, however, continue implementing several projects in the haors without the department鈥檚 consent, he said.
He also added that a huge opportunity of economic gain and environmental resources in the haors still untapped despite production of some rice and fishes.
The Amra Nari founder Zahidur Rahman Biplob, the Institute of Water Modelling鈥檚 water expert SM Tanvir Hasan and the Save Our Sea secretary general Gazi Anowarul Haque, among others, were present at the discussion.
Presenting a keynote, journalist Ehsanul Haque Jashim said that haors covered seven districts of the country that produced 20 per cent of fresh water fish of the country and 17 per cent of rice.
