Human chain formed to save Lawachhara

Environmentalist organisations form a human chain on Srimongal-Bhanugachh road in Moulvibazar yesterday protesting the planned 3D seismic survey at Lawachhara reserve forest for oil and gas exploration.Photo: STAR

Environmentalist organisations yesterday formed a human chain to press home their demand for halting the seismic survey operations of US oil company Chevron in Lawachhara reserve forest.
The human chain, organised by the Sylhet unit of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA), was formed on Srimongal-Bhanugachh road near Lawachhara reserve forest.
Members of Co-management Committee of Lawachhara Nishargo Support Project, Shujan, the Daily Samakal Surid Samabesh Moulvibazar, Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), and teachers and students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet participated in it.
Besides, local people of Komolganj, members of Youth Aid, and students of Modon Mohan University College in Sylhet also formed a separate human chain on the railway tracks running through Lawachhara reserve forest.
Aysha Chaudhury, field manager of BELA, Faruk Ahmed Chaudhury of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sahid Jahan of FIVDB, Prof Rafiqur Rahman, SUST teachers Ashraf Siddiquee, Shamima Tasnim, Fatema Khatun, Nasir Uddin and Saifuddin Ahmed and Ali Akbar Chowdhury of Youth Aid along with others joined hands to form human chain.
Chevron is conducting 3d Seismic Survey in Lawachhara reserve forest in search for oil and gas. Environmentalists said the survey will cause harm to wild life and damage resources in the forest.