SUNAMGANJ — Teachers, students and residents formed a human chain in Sunamganj’s Bishwambharpur upazila to demand the protection of the Peyarpul Dala embankment on the Dhopajan (Chalti) river.
The rally was held on Monday afternoon under the slogan “Our rivers, our lives: protect the healthy flow, revive the damaged rivers.” It was organized by the Eso Kaj Kori Mohila Unnayan Samity, with support from the Land Rights Development (LRD).
Local sources said heavy erosion has appeared along the banks of the Dhopajan river because of illegal sand extraction using dredging machines. Farmland, schools and homes are at risk of being lost, residents said. People in 15 villages are living in fear, and cries of distress can be heard along the banks of the Dhopajan every day, they said.
Jahanara Begum, president of Eso Kaj Kori Mohila Unnayan Samity, chaired the rally. Speakers included Md. Muhsin Ahmed Yasin, principal of Ratargaon High School and College; teachers Habibur Rahman, Abdul Halim, Abul Mansur, Badrul Alam, Sohag Hossain, Abdul Khaleq, Kamal Uddin, Rahmat Ali, Sajeda Begum and Parul Begum; and students Naim and Ashraful.
Jahanara Begum said erosion is continuing even though water levels are low. “Once the rains raise the water level, it will be difficult to save the embankment,” she said. A durable embankment must be built urgently and illegal sand and stone extraction must be stopped, she added.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report