No development activity in haor areas: Activists

Green activists at a discussion in the capital on Monday demanded that development activities in haor areas be stopped to restore the lost panoramic nature of the country's landscape.

They said the resources, environment and biodiversity of the haors could be protected through implementation of the haor mega plan, and waterways in the haor region must be restored by demolishing bridges and culverts, reports UNB

National River Protection Commission, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) and Walk for Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust jointly organised the discussion on haor mega plan and its implementation at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the morning, marking the World Wetland Day 2015.

Chairman of the National River Protection Commission Ataharul Islam said wetlands cannot be protected through development works.

"Construction of sluice-gates, culverts and embankments are destroying wetlands. Local people must be made aware about the importance of haors and wetlands, or else all efforts will fall flat," he added.

Director General of Department of Fisheries Syed Arif Azad said the original nature of haors has already been destroyed, but the wetlands must be protected at any cost to conserve fish resources in the country.

Poba chairman Abu Naser Khan, National River Protection Commission member additional secretary M Alauddin, Poba executive general secretary Abdus Sobhan and WBB Trust director Syed Mahbubul Alam, among others, spoke at the discussion.