On 17th June, a dialogue meeting was held with the theme of ‘Save Pashur River, Save the Sundarbans’ in Kolatola Temple Complex of Chila Union, Mongla. Pashur River Waterkeeper and Waterkeepers Bangladesh jointly organized the meeting. The main participants were the professionals whose livelihoods are dependent on the Sundarbans such as, Forest Workers, Fishermen and Honey Collectors etc.
On that Saturday afternoon, at 4.30 PM, the dialogue meeting was presided over by Pashur River Waterkeeper and Former Upazila Vice Chairman, Journalist Md. Noor Alam Sheikh.
UP Member Abdul Halim Hawladar, President of Fishermen’s Association Ronjeet Pramanno, Honey Collector Paresh Mandal, Fisherman Harshit Sheel, Nidhu Bhushan Gain, Prakash Mistri, Woman Leader Geeta Hawladar spoke in the meeting.
In the meeting, speakers mentioned that the Sundarbans and Pashur River are being attacked by profiteering trade and commerce these days. Fishes and aquatic creatures of streams are being endangered by these actions. The speakers urged the government to protect the Pashur River and the biodiversity of the Sundarbans from pollution and erosion. The meeting was attended by hundreds of professionals from various groups whose livelihood in strongly dependent on the Sundarbans. An Iftar party was held afterwards to conclude the dialogue meeting.