Destruction of environment anti-spiritual act of liberation war

Sultana Kamal, president of Bangladesh Environment Movement (Bapa) and former caretaker government advisor, said that in the name of development, mountains, hills, rivers, canals, haors, forests, and wild animals have been pushed towards destruction. In this way, the country's environment has reached the verge of destruction. These works must be stopped immediately. In this case, common people should be vocal about their needs.

He said these things while addressing a public gathering in Jaintapur Upazila's Darbast Bazar on Friday afternoon.

The rally was organized by Bapa, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Sari Nadi Bachao Andolan to demand the removal of the dam illegally built in 2016 on the Hidairkhal river in Goainghat upazila and to stop all activities that destroy the environment. Thousands of people from affected areas participated in it.

Calling those who destroy the environment as enemies of Bangladesh and mankind, Sultana Kamal said, 'River is a living entity. Damming the flowing Hidairkhal river means killing the river. Those involved in this misdeed should be tried on the charge of killing Nadi. The work against the spirit of our liberation war is to destroy the environment.

Calling for a boycott of candidates who destroy rivers and destroy the environment in any election, Bapa President said that the government has prepared a list of river destroyers and destroyers. But far from taking action against them, they have been indulged in various ways. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has spoken about the zero tolerance policy towards riverine offenders. But due to the greed of some wicked people, its reflection is not seen. Strict action must be taken against those who are involved in the crime of destroying rivers and environment, no matter how powerful they are. General Secretary of Bapa and Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh Sharif Jamil gave the keynote address at the public gathering.

He said that there was a long movement to remove the dam on the Hidairkhal river, but the dam was not removed. On the contrary, at present, initiatives have been taken to pave the dam through the Atlihai-Nainda road project. This will not be tolerated in any way. This embankment built for the personal benefit of some self-interested people should be removed immediately and a bridge should be constructed there.

Darbast Union Parishad Chairman Baharul Alam presided over the program. Conducted by Abdul Hai Al Hadi, president of the Sari River Bachao Movement. General Secretary of Sari River Save Movement gave welcome speech. Mahbubul Alam and the person affected by the dam is Sohail Ahmad.

The speakers said that due to the unplanned Hidairkhal Dam, the life, nature and environment of North-East Sylhet are under dire threat. Due to this dam, not only the agricultural plantations or the transportation system are destroyed, the entire area has become a death trap. It has become difficult to protect numerous roads, houses, crop lands, institutions etc. in hundreds of surrounding villages.

Speakers also said that the main flow of water in north-east Sylhet is Sari, Dawki and Payin rivers. The mountain water of India's Meghalaya flows through these rivers. Usually, the water would recede within a couple of hours or a day or two when there was a torrential downpour. But due to the construction of Hidairkhaal dam, it is now taking a lot of time for that water to come down.

Chairman of Jaintapur Upazila Parishad spoke as a special guest at the public gathering. Kamal Ahmad, BPA Habiganj General Secretary Tofazzal Sohail, BPA Sylhet Treasurer Chamir Mahmud and BPA Central Executive Committee member Father Joseph Gomez, Goainghat Upazila East Jaflong Union Chairman Lutfur Rahman, Educationist Manoj Kumar Sen and Sylhet Agricultural University Assistant Director Faizullah.

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