Mohanganj declaration announced

Save the Environment Movement at a press conference yesterday announced the 'Mohanganj Declaration 2008' identifying different problems of haor (water body) areas.
The declaration came after the three-day national haor festival held on August 22, 23 and 24 at Mohanganj in Netrakona.
Various cultural and sports programmes which, are now in dying condition, were parts of the festival.
Besides, several meetings on farming, fishery, river, wetland and other economic activities were held where lots of problems of the people as well as haor areas were identified.
The speakers at the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium in the city demanded declaration of at least one haor as sanctuary, because haors are a great source of indigenous fish and paddy.
Member Secretary of Haor Festival Committee Kamal Pasha Chowdhury said Mohanganj declaration was adopted based on those problems, adding, “The most neglected area and population exist in haor areas where touch of development is almost absent.”
Convener of the festival committee Abu Naser Khan said indigenous fish from only Mohanganj haor worth Tk 1.5 crore is supplied to Dhaka every day.
The speakers demanded withdrawal of lease system of the haor to save them from illegal encroachment by the influential people.
The declaration included small agro loan for farmers, establishing a bio-fertiliser factory, setting up more schools and introducing specialised education for children of haor areas as their lifestyle is different due to bio-diversity, establishing hospitals in haor areas, infrastructure development for communication and regular government campaign to save the environment of the areas.
Coordinator of the movement Dr Halim Dad Khan and Member Secretary of Haor Festival Committee Chhabi Bishwas also spoke.