Print | Countrywide celebration of World Environment Day 2025 by environmental and citizens led alliance DHORA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh along with local partner organizations.

প্রিন্ট এর তারিখঃ জুন ১৮, ২০২৫, ৩:১৮ পি.এম || প্রকাশের তারিখঃ জুন ৫, ২০২৫, ২:৪১ পি.এম

Countrywide celebration of World Environment Day 2025 by environmental and citizens led alliance DHORA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh along with local partner organizations.

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, Dhoritri Rokkhay Arma (DHORA), Waterkeepers Bangladesh and local partner organizations in Sylhet, Mongla, Borguna Sadar, Pathorghata, Kolapara, Habiganj organized different activities such as tree plantation, painting competitions, rallies, exchange meetings, gatherings, etc.

On this occasion, on June 3, 2025, DHORA and local news media Sylhet Voice jointly organized a round table discussion. Speakers at the roundtable blamed increasing plastic pollution and waste mismanagement for waterlogging during heavy rainfall due to natural erosion in Sylhet city and filling of the Surma Riverbed and urged the department of environment and Sylhet City Corporation authorities to take effective measures as soon as possible. The discussion was chaired by DHORA Sylhet convener Dr. Mostafa Shahzaman Chowdhury and attended among others by Sylhet Voice publisher Selina Chowdhury, DHORA Sylhet member secretary Abdul Karim Kim, acting editor of Sylhet Voice Dwoha Chowdhury, professor of Physics Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Dr. Nazia Chowdhury, and Professor Dr. Bijit Kumar Banik of the Department of Urban and Environmental Strategy, and Associate Professor Dr. Kaushik Saha of the Department of Architecture, Chief Waste Management Officer of Sylhet City Corporation Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Ataur Rahman Pir, General Secretary of Central Muslim Literature Society Selim Awal, Sylhet Divisional Coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer Association (BELA) Advocate Shah Saheda Akter, Columnist and Writer Uzzal Mehedi, Trustee of Environment and Heritage Conservation Trust Advocate Golam Sobhan Chowdhury, Managing Director of Rezaul Kibria, Founder President of Clean City Sylhet Nazib Ahmed.

On 4 June 2025, on observance of the World Environment Day 2025, DHORA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh along with Pathorghata Coastal Protection Movement organized activities at Hoglapasha 449 Settlement of Charduani Union of Pathorghata. Rally and discussion session were organized on the day in demand of drainage system improvement, removal of plastic waste from rivers and ocean, integrated efforts for protection of environment, and protection of the environment of the settlement areas. Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Manoj Kumar Kirtoniya presided over the discussion session in which the speakers were among others President of Pathorghata Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee Lecturer Ahsan Habib, Social Worker Mehedi Sikder, Sundarban Jubo Forum President Imran Hossen, President of Tarunyer Bangladesh Youth Society Shoeib Tahsin, DHORA Pathorghata Coordinator and Coastal Investigation Journalist Shofiqul Islam. In the discussion session, the speakers said it is necessary for us to protect our environment to protect our life. Every religion has instructions to protect the environment. But we have become involved in a competition to destroy our environment for sport. We have to come forward together to protect the environment. In the discussion session the residents of the settlement Idris Ali, Habibur Rahman mentioned their unbearable sufferings because of non-availability of a dustbin in their communities. Shofiqul Islam Khokon said, achieving SDG goal is not possible if environmental situation is not improved. The speakers at the discussion emphasized the need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through concerted efforts to create a healthy environment to make the world a habitable place for humans.

In Mongla, on 4 June 2025, at Marine Drive Road DHORA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh along with Poshur River Waterkeeper and Service Bangladesh organized a symbolic plastic waste removal movement. Speakers at the event said that the Sundarbans, adjacent rivers and canals, and the environment are being polluted due to the dumping of plastic waste by the Mongla Port Municipality. Municipal waste dumping along Marine Drive Road, the city's busiest estuary of the Pashur and Mongla rivers, must be stopped. Research has found microplastic particles in 17 species of fish in the Pashur and Mongla rivers. Every year, about 11 million tons of plastic waste enters the aquatic environment. This waste poses a threat to biodiversity and human health. This waste dumping station from Marine Drive Road in Mongla should be removed immediately. Single-use plastic should be banned initially from coastal areas and gradually from the entire country. Effective measures should be taken now to stop plastic polythene pollution in the Sundarbans, the world heritage of Asia. The inaugural ceremony of the cleanliness drive program was addressed by Pashur River Waterkeeper and the Coordinator of Sundarban Rokkhay Amra, Md. Noor Alam Sheikh. Among others, speakers at the program were Kamala Sarkar of DHORA, Abdur Rashid Howlader of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Mostafizur Rahman Milon of Service Bangladesh, Hasib Sardar of Sundarban Rokkhay Amra, Mohammad Shahin Khalifa of Youth for Sundarban Forum, Jane Alam Babu of Mongla Citizen Forum, Nushrat Jahan of CNRS, Abu Hasan of BD Clean, Fatema Zannat, Riaz Sheikh etc.

On the occasion of World Environment Day on Wednesday, June 4 at 11 am in Kalapara, Patuakhali, a human chain and painting competition was held on the banks of the river Andhar Manik with the support of local organizations Amara Kalaparabasi and Poribesh Bachao Andolan Kalapara. After the human chain, environmental organizer Mejbahuddin Mannu, cultural organizer and environmental activist Mustafa Zaman Sujan, Kamal Hasan Rony, Nazrul Islam, Tanzil Zaman Joy, Nazmus Shakib, and others spoke. The speakers requested the municipal authorities to create public awareness to stop the pollution of the river and to stop dumping plastic waste into the river. After the human chain, an environmental painting competition was held on the riverbank with the participation of children. Crests were distributed among the winners and fruit tree saplings were distributed to all the participants. All the participants expressed their determination to work together to make the Andhar Manik river, the Hilsa sanctuary in Kalapara, free from plastic pollution.

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the District Commissioner's conference room in Habiganj, DHORA and Khowai River Waterkeeper organized a discussion on the importance of the old Khowai River, ponds and water bodies in reducing waterlogging. Dr. Mohammad Faridur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Hobiganj attended the discussion session as the Chief Guest. Presided over by the Convenor of DHORA Sylhet, Tahmina Begum Gini, the program attended by Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Shamim Hasnain and Retired Principal of Brindabon Government College and organizar of Citizen’s Movement Professor Md. Ikramul Wadud. Key note paper was presented by Khowai River Waterkeeper Tofazzal Sohel. The guests who participated in the discussion were founder president of Hobiganj Press Club Advocate Monsur Uddin Ahmed Iqbal, renowned freedom fighter and the editor of Dainik Hobiganj Golam Mostofa Rafiq, eminent literary and retired principal of Government Mohila College Professor Jahan Ara Khatun, researcher Dr. Sheikh Fazle Elahi, syndicate member of National University Principal Md. Enamul Haque, Former public representative and freedom fighter Mohammad Ali Momen, prominent journalist Shoeb Chowdhury, former president of Habiganj Press Club Advocate Ruhul Hasan Sharif, President of Traders Welfare Association Md. Shamsul Huda, Advocate Hasbi Sayeed Chowdhury, Journalist Nurjahan Biva and other. In the discussion, the speakers said, for several years, waterlogging has become severe in and around Habiganj city. Even a small amount of rain causes waterlogging and artificial flooding, causing indescribable suffering to the people. Habiganj city has become known as a city of waterlogging due to the filling of the old Khowai River and the city's ponds, reservoirs, and canals, and the narrowing of the drainage path adjacent to the bypass road on the western side of the city. This picture will be even more horrific in the future. In the speech of the chief guest, the Deputy Commissioner said that the work of removing the encroachment of the old Khowai River has started. Everyone's cooperation is needed to develop the city as a beautiful city. All departments have to work in coordination.

Various activities were held in Barguna on June 5 to celebrate World Environment Day. On this occasion, a discussion meeting and fruit saplings were planted at Paschim Mansatoli Government Primary School in M. Baliatoli Union of Barguna Sadar Upazila. Barguna Additional Deputy Commissioner Sarbika Animesh Biswas was present as the chief guest at the discussion held at 12 noon, organized by DHORA and Water Keepers Bangladesh Barguna branch. The event was presided over by the school's headmaster, Tahmina Nilu, and special guests included M. Baliatoli Union Acting Chairman Md. Moniruzzaman, teacher Md. Abdus Salam, member secretary of Dhara Barguna branch Mushfiq Arif, and President of M Baliatoli Union Chhatra Dal M. Firozuzzaman Nadim. At the end of the discussion meeting, the guests planted about 40 different types of fruit and forest saplings on the premises of West Manasatali School. These seedlings included various species of mango, jackfruit, guava, amloki, bokphul, arjun, bohera, amrha, krishnachura and zhau. Teachers, students, guardians of the school and people from different walks of life of the area were present at the event.

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