A fishermen’s festival, human chain, and discussion meeting were held in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, on Sunday to mark World Rivers Day, with environmental activists demanding an end to river encroachment and pollution and the restoration of natural water flow.
The programme was held around 10:00 am at the Rajakhali section of the Taitong-Sonaichhari canal in Pekua. Environmental organisation Dharitri Rokkhyay Amra (Dhara), the Salt-Fisheries and Agriculture Welfare Association, and the Coastal Mukto Rover Scouts Group jointly organised the event.
Speakers said rivers were not merely channels of water but living ecosystems that support livelihoods, agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity. They said many rivers and canals across the country face serious threats from encroachment, pollution, unplanned structures, and plastic and polythene waste.
They said water bodies that once served as major sources of livelihood for local fishermen were now increasingly polluted with plastic, polythene and other waste. Such pollution was disrupting natural water flow and damaging habitats of fish and other aquatic species.
The speakers called for effective measures to stop the encroachment and pollution of rivers and canals. They demanded that occupied water bodies be restored to ensure their natural flow and water-holding capacity.
They also highlighted long-standing obstructions to water flow in the Taitong-Sonaichhari canal. According to them, embankments and other obstructions have been in place for around four years for bridge construction, disrupting the canal’s natural flow.
They said the problem becomes particularly severe during the monsoon, when water cannot drain quickly, causing waterlogging and worsening residents’ suffering. They added that prolonged obstruction of the waterway is also affecting the aquatic ecosystem and the livelihoods of people dependent on the canal.
The speakers said bridge construction was necessary, but maintaining obstructions that block the canal’s natural flow in the name of development was unacceptable. They urged the authorities to remove the obstructions quickly and restore the canal’s normal water flow.
Dhara Pekua upazila coordinator Delwar Hossain, veteran teacher Ruhul Amin, Nazrul Jafar, labour leader Nazem Uddin Nazu and Abul Bashar spoke at the programme.
Local fishermen, environmental activists, Rover Scouts members and people from different professions attended the event.
Following the human chain and discussion, a fishermen’s festival was held on the canal, featuring local fishermen traditionally catching fish. The festival highlighted the longstanding relationship between rivers and fishing communities and renewed calls for protecting waterways and aquatic resources.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
