Staff Reporter :Environmentalists on Saturday urged the government to save the River Turag from pollution and grabbing. “The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), local administration and law enforcers have not yet been able to stop fall of the industrial waste into the river, nor taken legal action against the grabbers,” said the speakers at a human chain held on the banks of the Turag River on Saturday morning. Different environmental groups led by Bangladesh Nodi Bachao Andolan organised the human chain to press home their four-point demand to save the Turag.They in total formed human chains at 15 different places, including Kaliakoir Bazar, Kodda Bazar, Tongi Bridge, Kamarpara Bridge near Ijtema ground area, Mirzapur Bazar in Sadar Upazila of Gazipur district, Ashulia, Amin Bazar Bridge and Basila Bridge in Savar Upazila of Dhaka district, along the banks of the river. The programme started at 10:00am and ended around 12noon.Save the Environment Movement, Bangladesh President Anwar Sadat, its Vice-Presidents Manir Hossain, Khandaker Aminul Islam Tutul, Convener Manowar Hossain Rony, Convener of Buriganga Banchao Andolon Mihir Biswas and representatives of other environmental organisations attended the programme, among others. The activists demanded freeing of the Turag from illegal grabbing, and setting up environment friendly industry to ensure pollution free water in the river per day.Save the Environment Movement, Bangladesh President Anwar Sadat blamed factories built near the Turag River for river pollution and alleged that the wastes of 6,000-7000 factories are dumped into the Turag River.He said the government should bring those who are polluting and grabbing the rivers to book.Anwar Sadat also demanded realisation of compensation from the responsible organizations and distribution of it among the victims.
