A Human Chain was held at Patharghata, Barguna, Bangladesh, to demand saving the wetlands
“Protect wetlands, save lives”, “Open the dams, save the life of the city”, “If wetlands are protected, the country will be saved”, “If wetlands are destroyed, human welfare will be destroyed” – the locals demanded the protection of wetlands at Barguna’s Patharghata Upazila.
On March 24, 2024, at around 11 a.m., over 400 people formed a human chain beside a large pond (called Dighi), near Muktijoddha Sangsad in Patharghata town, promoting ‘wetlands and human welfare’.
WATERKEEPERS BANGLADESH, Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra-DHORA, Patharghata Coast Protection Movement and Patharghata Upazila Civil Rights Forum held a human chain.
Mehdi Shikder, co-coordinator of Patharghata Coast Protection Movement, advocate Titop Kumar Bitul, retired teacher Santosh Kumar, businessman Shri Rajeshyam, environmental activist journalist Shafiqul Islam Khokon, coordinator of Patharghata Coast Protection Movement and others spoke at the agitation.
The speakers demanded to protect the environment including the rescue of all ponds and wetlands of Patharghata town. The human chain has threatened strict movement if measures are not taken to protect the environment of Patharghata municipal city.
Environmental activist Shafiqul Islam Khokon, who participated in the human chain, said, “For the past few years, we have been agitating for the protection of wetlands in Patharghata city.”
“But the ears of the concerned authorities are not getting water,” he criticized.
We have been demanding for a long time to secure the lake adjacent to Muktijoddha Sangsad and make it ‘Bir Muktijoddha Lake’. We want all the water bodies in the city to be eco-friendly as soon as possible. MP and UNO have already assured us.
Later Patharghata Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Roknuzzaman Khan, Ward No. 8 Councilor Rafiqul Islam Kakan of Patharghata Municipality, Hossain Babul, Councilor No. 7 of Ward No. 7 Mochaffer assured and stopped the agitators with human chains.
UNO said, “After discussing with the municipal mayor and MP, your just demand will be implemented very soon.”
Sultana Nadira, Member of Parliament (MP) for Barguna-2 Constituency of Bangladesh Parliament , said, “All the wetlands of Patharghata Municipality which are unoccupied or a threat to the environment, will be opened soon.”
“Any act that destroys the environment will not be tolerated,” she added.
