DHAKA: The concept of setting up sluice-gates on rivers and cannels should leave, commented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She said country’s rivers and cannels are dying due to setting up sluice-gates on them.

‘We should take steps to protect our rivers,’ the premier asked the officials of water resources ministry on Sunday morning.

The premier made the visit in line with her visits to the ministries in a bid to boost the work rapidity and quality.

Upholding the disadvantages of construction of sluice-gates, the PM said that natural silts on both sides of the gates make them ineffective.

‘There are no new gates will be constructed in the coastal areas. These gates are killing our cannels of those areas,’ said Sheikh Hasina.

Due to sluice-gates, people, who are dependent on rivers, are facing problems. They cannot use river routes. Even there are insufficient road links in those areas. As a result, people walk a long way, she described.

PM’s economic affairs adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, water resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, state minister for water resources Muhammad Nazrul Islam, PM’s principal secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, PMO secretary Abul Kalam Azad and water resource ministry secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan, among others, were present at the program.

** Govt working for increasing fishery resources

BDST: 1352 HRS, MAY 11, 2014