, Sept. 24 -- Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Thursday stressed the need for coordinated and long-term measures to protect the rivers surrounding Dhaka, control pollution, restore navigability and ensure their natural flow.

He said river management must be treated as an integral part of protecting the capital's environment, public health, biodiversity and economy.

The minister made the remarks at an event titled "High Level Event on Bangladesh Rivers Pollution Control, Conservation and Management of the Rivers Surrounding Capital Dhaka" organised by Team Europe Union at Aloki in Gulshan, said a PID handout.

Anee said keeping the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya and Dhaleshwari rivers free from pollution an...