Nature Loving People (NLP), an environmental platform, has called upon the authorities concerned to turn the DIT Pond at Gendaria in Old Dhaka into a reservoir-centric eco-park.
The environmental organization raised the demand from a human a human programme held at Siddeshwari in the capital on Thursday (June 15). The human chain was formed demanding the preservation of the DIT Pond, which had been encroached by the local influential. The NPL also demanded comprehensive measurers by the authorities concerned to revive the lost ponds and ensure the preservation of the remaining ones within Dhaka city in order to save the city from environmental hazards.
The organization, however, thanked the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) for carrying out an eviction drive in DIT Pond area at Gendaria to free the century-year old historic pond from encroachers.
President of NLP Ehsanul Haque Jasim presided over the human chain, while General Secretary Selim Ahmed moderated the programme.
Convener of Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA) and chairman of Environ Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar, former chairman of the Department of Zoology of Dhaka University Professor Dr Gulshan Ara Latifa, Secretary General of Save Our Sea Muhammad Anwarul Hoque, director of Inter Press Network and pond protection activist Syed Saiful Alam Shovan, journalist Abdul Gafur Aranya and others participated in the human chain. The Nature Loving People (NLP) called upon the local people of Gendaria to be alert against encroachers so that they can’t grab the DIT Pond again.
Participants of the human chain said that although the RAJUK evicted illegal establishments from the DIT Pond area, some establishments, particularly office the local Ward Councilor, still remain there. They called upon the authorities concerned to evict the office of the local Ward Councilor. Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said that although RAJUK carried out drive against illegal establishments in DIT Pond area, the local influentials will grab the pond again. If the reservoir-centric eco-park is set up there, the pond will be saved.
