Politicians, right activists, academics and environmentalists on Saturday urged for a greater unity of citizens to save national pride Sundarban from all kinds of destructions including installation of power plant at Rampal in Bagerhat. At a citizens’ gathering at Mukti Bhaban in the capital, they also formed a 101-member national committee to steer the movement for saving Sundarban, with rights activists Sultana Kamal as its convenor and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan general secretary Abdul Matin as secretary general.
Addressing the gathering, human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra executive director Sultana Kamal said, ‘Sundarban is our national resource. Any act of destroying it is a violation of the constitution.’
Sunderban is not only a rare treasure of excellent biodiversity with the dominant presence of Royal Bengal Tigers and proven natural shield for the country from natural disasters, it is also the World Heritage declared by UNESCO, she said.
Sultana Kamal, also former adviser to the caretaker government, urged the people to make all out efforts to save this forest.
National Committee for Oil-Gas-Mineral and Power, Port secretary general Anu Muhammad expressed deep concern over the attitude of Indian High Commission neglecting the criticism of national scientists.
He said, ‘Sundarban is the part of our existence, any how we have to save it.’
Transparency international Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said that the government failed to save Sundarban.
Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association chief executive officer Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that the existing Forest Act lacked any direction to preserve forest and develop forest for which the environmentalist urged the government to enact a separate law for Sundarban.
Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Ruhin Hossain Prince, architect Iqbal Habib and actress Sumona Soma also spoke at the programme.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, Transparency International Bangladesh, Save the Sundarbans Foundation, Centre for Human Rights Movement, Green Voice, Bagerhat Development Commission, Rampal Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, Nature Campaign Bangladesh joined at the gathering.
-With New Age input
