Protest against illegal stone extraction
Hundreds of students from the indigenous community in Bandarban at a human chain programme yesterday demanded immediate steps to stop illegal stone extraction from local natural water bodies.
They formed the human chain in front of Bandarban Press Club, following a protest procession that paraded the main streets of the town in the morning.
Indigenous villagers are facing acute water crisis as some local influential unscrupulous people and a few local journalists have been continuing illegal stone extraction from the natural water bodies in Alikadom, Thanchi, Rowangchhari, Lama and Sadar upazilas of the district for long, speakers said.
They alleged that the local administration is turning a blind eye towards the illegal act and seems reluctant to take any steps against the perpetrators as they are locally influential people.
Speakers said local influential people like Pradeep Das, Ali Hossain, Nasir Uddin, Manu member, Muktaron Tripura and Md Mubarak and local journalists Md Ishaque, HM Samrat, Mong Sanu Marma and Kyamui Aung Marma have been continuing stone extraction from different natural water bodies in the district.
Presided over by human rights activist John Tripura, Aungsaipru Khyang, secretary of Bangladesh Khyang Students Forum, Rangklung Mro, Secretary of Mro Students Council, Bandarban unit, and U Thowai Nue, vice-president of Bangladesh Marma Students Council, Bandarban unit, spoke among others.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to Bandarban deputy commissioner for forwarding to the prime minister.
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