Urgent intervention of the administration is demanded to stop encroachment and pollution
‘Dheu’, a social organization for the protection of rivers and water bodies, has held a human chain and protest rally demanding the implementation of 7 points to protect ponds, canals, water bodies and the environment in Brahmanbaria city. The speakers called for taking immediate and effective steps to protect the environment, conserve water bodies and ensure a safe future for the city’s residents.
The program was organized at the 36th July Memorial Monument at the old Kachari intersection (in front of the modern municipal supermarket) of Brahmanbaria Municipality on Sunday (July 5) at 10 am. Leaders of various social, cultural, sports, journalistic and voluntary organizations, environmental activists and conscious citizens participated in it.
The human chain was presided over by Dheu Brahmanbaria convener Sohel Ahad and moderated by Ali Akram Khandaker Swapan. Comrade Nazrul Islam, District Khelaghar General Secretary Nihar Ranjan Sarkar, President of Madakmukt Brahmanbaria Chai Organization Prabir Chowdhury, General Secretary Ashraful Hasan Topu spoke as discussants. Dheu joint convener Aminul Islam Ahad and United Brahmanbaria General Secretary Sheikh Arif Billah Aziji, Dheu member secretary Aifat Munshi, Khokon Mia also spoke.
In his speech as the president at the event, Sohel Ahad said, Brahmanbaria was once known for its numerous ponds, canals and water bodies. But over the years, due to illegal encroachment, filling, unplanned urbanization and lack of administrative supervision, these water bodies are rapidly disappearing. As a result of the loss of water bodies, the city is waterlogged during the monsoon season, the groundwater level is going down and the environmental balance is being severely affected. If effective initiatives are not taken now, future generations will face a terrible environmental crisis.
Ashraful Hasan Topu said, just as drugs destroy society, environmental destruction also threatens human life. To build a livable city, water conservation must be given top priority. He called on the administration, public representatives and the common people to work together.
Comrade Nazrul Islam said, “Rivers, canals and water bodies are not the property of any individual or group, they are the property of the people. There is no alternative to taking strict legal action against illegal encroachers and restoring water bodies by freeing them from encroachment.”
Nihar Ranjan Sarkar said, “Children and adolescents need a healthy environment to grow up healthily. Ponds and water bodies not only hold water, they also play an important role in preserving biodiversity. Therefore, everyone should be aware of protecting the environment.”
Aminul Islam Ahad said, “Many historical ponds and canals of Brahmanbaria have already been lost. If urgent measures are not taken to protect those that still exist, they will soon cease to exist.” This movement to protect the environment is not of any individual or organization, it is a movement of the people of the entire district.
Mahfuzur Rahman Pushpa said, “Destruction of the environment in the name of development cannot be development. To ensure planned development, conservation of water bodies must be made mandatory.”
Prabir Chowdhury Ripon said that the media will always highlight issues of public interest. Journalists will continue to play a responsible role against environmental destruction, encroachment on water bodies and pollution.
Sheikh Arif Billah said, “Protecting the environment is not possible without the united participation of citizens. Everyone must come forward to protect water bodies from their respective positions.”
The program was hosted by Advocate Rafiqul Islam. The overall presentation was by Dheur joint convener Ali Akram Khandaker Swapno.
Among their seven-point demands, the speakers demanded the preparation of an accurate list of all ponds, canals and water bodies in the city, stopping illegal encroachment and filling, restoring encroached water bodies, ensuring the natural flow of water bodies, strict monitoring to stop anti-environmental activities, increasing public awareness on environmental conservation, and implementing a long-term effective plan to protect water bodies.
At the end of the rally, the participants said that if the concerned authorities do not take immediate effective measures to implement their demands, a larger movement program will be announced in the future. They sought joint efforts from the administration, public representatives and people from all walks of life to make Brahmanbaria an environment-friendly, waterlogging-free and livable city. After the human chain, a memorandum was submitted to all government departments including the Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner, Brahmanbaria Zilla Parishad Administrator and Brahmanbaria Police Superintendent.
