Sultana Kamal, president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) and adviser to the former caretaker government; and some other eminent environmentalists and river conservationists have called for boycotting of environmental polluters and river grabbers in any election.
They raised the demand while addressing a mammoth rally at Dorbost Bazar at Jaintiapur upazila in Sylhet district on Friday (June 9).
Speaking at the public rally as the chief guest, Sultana Kamal said hills, mountains, rivers, canals, haors, reservoirs, forests and wildlife have been pushed towards destruction in the name of development. As a result, the country’s environment has reached the verge of destruction. The work that destroys the environment must be stopped immediately. The people must be vocal against such work, she added.
Calling for a boycott of candidates who grab rivers and pollute the environment in any election, the BAPA President said that the government had prepared a list of river grabbers and environment polluters. However, no action has been taken against them. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a zero tolerance policy towards river grabbers. Strict action must be taken against those who are involved in the crime of destroying rivers and the environment, she told the public rally.
BAPA, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Sari Nodi Bachao Andolan (Save the Sari River Movement) jointly organised the public rally demanding demolition of the dam built illegally on 2016 on the mouth of Hidairkhal River at Goainghat upazila in Sylhet, and an end to all activities that destroy the environment.
Sharif Jamil, general secretary of BAPA and coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh; spoke at the public rally as chief discussant.
Baharul Alam Bahar, chairman of Dorbost Union Parishad; presided over the rally, while Md Mahbubul Alam, general secretary of Sari Nodi Bachao Andolan; and Sohel Ahmed, a person of the area which is affected for Hidairkhal Dam; delivered the welcome speech.
Moderated by Abdul Hye Al-Hadi, president of Sari Nodi Bachao Andolan; the programme was addressed, among others, by Md Kamal Ahmad, chairman of Jaintiapur Upazila Parishad; Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of BAPA’s Habiganj unit; Father Joseph Gomez, central executive committee member of BAPA; and Lutfur Rahman, chairman of East Jaflong Union Parishad of Goainghat upazila.
In her speech, Advocate Sultana Kamal termed people twho destroy the environment as enemies of Bangladesh and mankind. “River is a living entity. Construction of the dam over Hidairkhal River means killing the river. Those involved in this misdeed should be tried on the charge of killing the river. Destroying the environment is the work against the spirit of our Liberation War,” she said.
Speaking about the movement demanding the demolition of Hidairkhal Dam, she said it is unexpected that the dam is still not demolished. On the contrary, now initiative has been taken to pave the dam through the Atlihai-Nainda road project. This will not be tolerated in any way. A bridge should be constructed there after demolishing the dam, she opined.
The speakers said that the environment and biodiversity of northeast Sylhet are now under threat due to the construction of the unplanned Hidairkhal Dam. Not only does it have a negative impact on agriculture, the entire area has become a death trap for the dam. It has become difficult to protect numerous roads, houses, crop lands and institutions in hundreds of surrounding villages.
The speakers also said that the main flow of water in northeast Sylhet is Sari, Dawki and Piyain 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 Hidairkhal Dam, it is now taking a lot of time for that water to come down.