To save the Haor area (Marshlands) in the Northeastern part of Bangladesh, BAPA wants an immediate dialogue between India and Bangladesh
To protect the vast haor area of Sylhet Sunamganj in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Poribesh Bachao Andolon -BAPA (Environment Save movement of Bangladesh) calls for immediate special dialogue between Bangladesh and India.
This dialogue needs to take immediate action to stop the unplanned and uncontrolled extraction of mineral resources in the Indian state of Meghalaya and deforestation and landslides.
BAPA members visited Rajnilaine, Chandpur, in the Uttar Baradal Union of Tahirpur Upazila in the Sunamganj district.
During their visit to Chandpur, Rajnilain, situated near India’s border, they saw the agricultural lands and ponds were filled by the sand/stones.
According to the residents, sand has seriously destroyed the agricultural land and water reservoirs in Chandpur and Rajnilain, Rajai, Maram, Barungachara, and Shantipur, a total of six villages.
Because Chandpur situates at the foot of the Meghalaya hills, sand has accumulated in the courtyards of village homes, marketplaces, village roads/ways, mosques, local BGB camps, and school grounds. People in the neighborhood are suffering from colds, coughing, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses, in addition to losing their homes.
BAPA deployed a representative team to the area in 2008. The condition that existed at the time has now grown to a far larger extent.
If the flow of sand and stones from India’s Khasia hills does not cease, the extensive marshes and haors of the area, especially Tanguar haor, would soon fill up.
Many additional marshlands, notably the Pachashol beel (marshland), already filled up with sand and stones, leaving no trace of wetlands.
Following the inspection, BAPA advised using a well-organized plan to remove/lift sands or stones from filled canals, rivers, and other water bodies, as well as from agricultural lands, and assess the damages. They also wanted monetary compensation based on the damage assessment.
Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of BAPA Central Committee, led the visiting team. The other members of the team were Abdul Karim Kim, Executive Member of the Central Committee and General Secretary of BAPA Sylhet Branch, Tofazzal Sohel, General Secretary of BAPA Habiganj Branch, Dewan Nurtaj Alam, member of JuboBAPA, Andrew Salmar, Tribal leader, Mohammad Samrat Mia, UP member, Abdul Motallib, Union Juba League General Secretary, Mohammad Raja Mia, President of Chandpur Bazar Banik Samiti, and Mohammad Sahabuddin, an older person of the area.
