Karnaphuli Suraksha Parishad, an organisation of the residents in Chattogram, formed a human chain and rally at the Chattogram Press Club premises on Sunday demanding that the Karnaphuli is declared a national river on the occasion of World River Day 2024.
The event highlights the urgent need for stricter laws to protect the river from encroachment and pollution and demand legal action and exemplary punishment for the people responsible, according to the organisers.
They emphasised the importance of maintaining the Karnaphuli River's navigability and preserving its ecological and cultural significance.
Speaking at the event, river researcher Dr Idris Ali described that Karnaphuli as not just a natural resource but also a vital part of the region's culture and livelihood.
He urged for collective efforts to depollute the river, stressing that a healthy environment for future generations depends on protecting this essential waterway.
Journalist Shamsuddin Illius echoed these sentiments, calling for the restoration of encroached rivers and advocating for stronger law enforcement to protect all of the country's rivers, canals, and water bodies.
He emphasised the importance of public cooperation and urged for the development of an inclusive, people-oriented plan to tackle river pollution.
Notable environmental and human rights activists also spoke at the event. Poet and journalist Kamal Parvez, president of Karnaphuli Suraksha Parishad, presided over the programme.
The event was moderated by the organisation's General Secretary Sheikh Didarul Islam Chowdhury. Other speakers included MA Hashem Raju, Hasan Maruf Rumi, Dr. Kamrul Hasan, and several journalists and academics.
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