Speakers at a media campaign in the town yesterday urged the government to take necessary measures to free the rivers flowing through the district from the hands of grabbers.

They also demanded dredging of the rivers in the district to allow free flow of water and protecting those from pollution released by nearby factories.

They made the demands at the rally organised on the occasion of the World River Day.

Dhaleshwari River Bachao Andolan, Manikganj Press Club and non-governmental organisation Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge jointly organised the campaign at the Social Advancement Centre in the town.

Convener of Dhaleshwari River Bachao Andolan Azharul Islam Arzu, its Joint Convener Zahangir Alam Biswas, President of Social Advancement Centre Dipak Kumar Ghosh, Associate Programme Officer of Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Bimal Roy, President of Manikganj Press Club Golam Sarwar Sanu, its General Secretary Biplob Chakraborty, residents of the  river bank -- Mohammad Ibrahim, Lal Mia, Lutfar Miah, Nazma Akter, Jarina Begum -- and print and electronic media people shared their views and experiences at the programme.

The speakers said the Padma, Jamuna, Ichhamati, Dhaleshwari, Kaliganga, Kantabati, Manalkhani, Gazikhali, Kshirai, Manda and Bhubaneswar rivers flow through the district.

Water is flowing only in the Padma and Jamuna rivers, while the other nine internal rivers have been filled up with sand and soil, adding that the rivers have been occupied by grabbers at different places. The water has also been polluted by the waste from factories

If no action is taken to free the rivers from grabbers for ensuring free flow of water and to clear the pollution, they will announce a continuous programme throughout the year, the speakers warned.