Speakers at a rally in Sakhipur upazila yesterday demanded action against the illegal grabbers of government water bodies to protect the environment and bio-diversity.

They also protested against grabbing and filling of the water bodies.

Soukhin Matsya Shikari Samity organised the rally in the upazila headquarters, protesting grabbing and filling of water bodies.

Several hundred amateur fish catchers from different unions in the upazila, carrying their fishing tools, including polo and chabi, brought out a procession in the municipal area at noon.

After parading different streets, the procession ended at the premises of the upazila parishad. The participants held a protest rally there.

Speakers at the rally protested rampant grabbing and filling of government-owned rivers, canals, ponds and ditches by the influential people everywhere in the country, including Sakhipur, in the name of so-called development.

They demanded necessary steps by the authorities concerned against the illegal activities immediately to save the environment and biodiversity.

They also demanded recovery of all the grabbed government-owned water bodies from the influential quarters and also keeping these open for fishing by all people.

Convenor of the Samity Mohammad Abed Miah presided over the rally.

Upazila unit Awami League President Kutub Uddin, former panel mayor of Sakhipur municipality Billal Shikder, incumbent panel Mayor Delwar Shikder, Councilor of the municipality Shahid Shikder, Sakhipur Press Club president Iqbal Gafur, Gozaria Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Mannan Miah, local Baul singer Abul Sarkar and Tofazzal Hossain spoke at the rally.