World Rivers Day being observed

The World Rivers Day 2019 is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Sunday, reports UNB. 

The theme of this year's day is - River a living entity, ensure its legal rights.

The World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world's waterways that highlight the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world.

State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said the government has taken initiatives to protect the rivers as a challenge.

He said this while inaugurating a rally to observe the World Rivers Day one the National Museum premises.

In 2005, the United Nations (UN) launched the 'Water for Life Decade' to help create a greater awareness of the need to better care for our water resources.

Following this, the establishment of World Rivers Day was in response to a proposal initiated by internationally renowned river advocate Mark Angelo.

A World Rivers Day event was seen by agencies of the UN as a good fit for the aims of the Water for Life Decade and the proposal was approved.

River enthusiasts from around the world came together to organise the first event in 2005 which was a great success and World Rivers Day was celebrated across dozens of countries.

Since then, the event has continued to grow and it is annually celebrated on the last Sunday of every September.

Bangladesh has been observing the World Rivers Day since 2010.