Save Pasur river, Sundarbans

A number of organisations observed World Environment Day in Bagerhat's port town of Mongla yesterday, with calls to save the river Pasur and the Sunderbans.

The programmes, organised by Mongla River Water Keeper, Bangladesh Environment Movement, Bapa and Waterkeepers Bangladesh, were held at the Mongla College Road and Mongla College Library auditorium, and included a human chain, seminar, and painting and essay competitions.

Speakers at the human chain and seminars said damages to the Sundarbans have already begun, even before the factories round the world's largest mangrove forest are fully functional. The food chains of the forest as well as adjoining areas are breaking down, they said.

The losses will increase when all the factories are fully operational, speakers added, citing a recent study by the Department of Environmental Science of Khulna University.

Later in the day at the auditorium of Mongla College Library, an essay competition was held, with the theme "The Pasur River is the life of the Sundarbans".

Md Nur Alam Sheikh, Monlga coordinator of Bapa, chaired the event. The principal of Mongla Government College, Md. Golam Sarwar, spoke as the chief guest, among others.