Save Khowai River from land grabbers
Save Khowai River from land grabbers
Demands human chain in Habiganj
Cross section of people joined a human chain in Habiganj town yesterday demanding immediate steps to save the Khowai River from illegal occupation and pollution.
Following the programme jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), Puraton Khowai Nodi Rokkha committee, and Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela), a rally was held in the town.
"The authorities seem inactive when the rivers are being grabbed and polluted indiscriminately. Drives to recover the rivers are often halted midway due to unknown reasons," Bela Executive Director Syeda Rezwana Hasan said in her address at the rally as chief guest.
The government's indifference towards environment, indecision, weakness, corruption and lack of coordination among different organisations contribute to the destruction of rivers.
She stressed the need to take sustainable development programme and its implementation by using land, water and manpower resources properly.
Protecting the rivers from encroachment and pollution is a must to save biodiversity as well as the life and livelihood of the people, said Bapa Joint Secretary Sharif Jamil, special guest of the programme.
A number of influential people are using the areas on the bank of the Khowai River for cultivation, and some of them have even built concrete structures there to perpetuate the occupation, speakers said at the rally.
The river has turned into a narrow canal but the local administration is doing nothing to save it from illegal occupation and pollution, they alleged.
They demanded immediate step to ensure the natural flow of the river.
Among others, Bapa central committee member Tofazzal Sohel, Habiganj district unit president Ekramul Wadud, and Dr Jamir Ali spoke at the rally presided over by Alauddin Talukdar, convenor of Puraton Khowai Nodi Rokkha Committee.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Habiganj deputy commissioner.