Call to protect water bodies in Ctg

Speakers yesterday urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to save the port city's water bodies, including ponds and dighis (large ponds), from illegal grabbing and encroachment.
They also demanded exemplary punishment to the grabbers.
The demands were made at a rally following a human chain programme organised by Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (Bela) at Chittagong Press Club.
Speakers said the number of water bodies in the city is decreasing rapidly.
Many water bodies, including Askar Dighi, Boluar Dighi, Agrabad Dheba, Bahaddar Bari Pukur and Damua Pukur, are under the threat of pollution and illegal grabbing, they said.
They also declared a mass meeting on March 16 at Munshi Pukur Par in Kapashgola for protecting the pond from illegal filling.
Bela Divisional Coordinator Advocate Anwarul Islam Chowdhury chaired the programme while East Delta University Vice-chancellor Prof Sikandar Khan and Chittagong University Prof Dr Mohammad Shah Alam spoke among others.