Manzoorul Kibria speaks at a seminar on “Halda River” at Alliance Française de Chittagong in the port city yesterday as part of the festival, “Tora Kon Kon Jabi Aar Sampanat” (Whom of you will board my boat?). The festival was jointly hosted by The Daily Star and Alliance Française de Chittagong as part of The Daily Star's “Odommo Chattagram” festival. Photo: STAR

The country's largest fish spawning ground, the Halda river, is being destroyed for construction of unplanned structures and brick kilns on the banks and discharges from adjacent power plants, Halda expert Manzoorul Kibria said yesterday.
“The Halda is not only a river, it is a heritage,” he said, calling for the authorities concerned to save it from pollution and destruction.
“Many species of fish and fresh water dolphins are on the verge of extinction for untreated discharges flowing into the river from the riverside installations,” he told a seminar on “Halda River” at Alliance Française de Chittagong.
The programme was part of the weeklong festival, “Tora Kon Kon Jabi Aar Sampanat” (Whom of you will board my boat?), jointly hosted by The Daily Star and Alliance Française de Chittagong. It is a sequel to The Daily Star's “Odommo Chattagram” festival last year.
The Halda expert said lots of folk songs and pala songs had been composed on the traditional river, which were still popular in the entire Chittagong.
Citing the famous local song “O re sampan wala, tui aamare korli dewana”, he said “Halda Fada” were songs based on the river.
The expert also showed a documentary on the river, originating from Ramgar area of Khagrachhari, and its unique loops where fishes release their eggs.
"A slow food festival" was organised on the occasion to promote the local and traditional dishes. The members of Biodiversity Club of Alliance Française de Chittagong took part in it with a variety of seasonal and local recipes.
Around 35 kinds of recipes and dishes were displayed at the festival.
Shahnaj HJ Leena, a researcher, spoke on “Sea and sky wisdom of Chittagong Mariners” at the festival, while Samuel Berthet, director of Alliance Française de Chittagong, delivered the welcome speech.