Free Ratargul swamp forest canal from encroachment

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) yesterday demanded that the government take immediate steps to make Ratargul swamp forest canal free from encroachment and pollution.

The demand was raised during a demonstration in Shialicherra area near the Ratargul swamp forest in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district.

Bapa organised a boat rally where over 100 boatmen belonging to different associations of boatmen took part with a call to save the swamp forest from pollution and illegal occupation.

At the hour-long rally, which started at 10:30am, environmentalists blamed lack of regular maintenance and absence of dredging of the canal for the situation in which some people are setting up illegal structures.

Sultana Kamal, vice-president of Bapa, chaired the rally where human rights activist Khusi Kabir attended as chief guest, and Dr Kazi Kholikuzaman as special guest.

Rasheda K Chowdhury, former adviser to a caretaker government, Dr Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bapa, Sayeda Rizwana Hassan, chief of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer's Association (BELA), Sharif Jamil, joint secretary of Bapa, Fr. Joseph Gomes, member of Bapa, among others, addressed the rally.

They saw the effects of pollution caused by encroachment upon the canal in Ratargul.