On July 29, 2019 in front of Saint Paul’s High School in Mongla, Pashur River Waterkeeper, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) jointly organized a human chain and rally for demanding the protection of the Sundarbans and river Pashur to protect the Tiger-habitat on the eve of Global Tiger Day 2019.

People from all walks including the students, fisherman and honey collector communities joined the human chain putting black badge in their mouth as a symbolic protest against the ongoing destructions to the Sundarbans by poisoning the water for illegal fishing, poaching of wildlife and timber and reckless industrializations.

Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam, Pashur River Waterkeeper, coordinator of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon(BAPA)-Mongla presided over the protest. The director of the Sundarbans Museum Shuvash Chandra Biswas, Joint Secretory of Municipal Awami League Kaji Golam Hossain Bablu, journalist Sheikh Kamrul Zaman Jashim, activist of BAPA Najmul Haque, General Secretary of the Prison Association Abdur Rashid Hawladar, Volunteers of Pashur River Waterkeeper Komla Sharkar, Rakesh Sana, Ramesh Sheel also spoke on this occasion.

Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam said, we are a lucky nation, as Bangladesh is one of the few countries that have tigers, but at this moment of Global Tiger Day celebrations, the tiger’s habitat the Sundarbans is endangered. Proper measures must be taken to protect the Sundarbans. Government must take effective measures in order to reflect the promises that we have made to the international community to increase tiger population and protect the Sundarbans.

During the protest, speakers said that the tigers were coming to the locality and attacking the villagers nearby due to the lack of food and degradation to their habitat. Due to poisoning in the cannels for fishing and polluting the river Pashur, the food chain in the Sundarbans is breaking down. To stop these, in addition to the implementation of administrative zero tolerance policy, unplanned industrialization should be stopped in and around the Sundarbans. Participants in the protest were carrying branches of dead trees to symbolize the endangered Sundarbans. Children also took part in this protest with their painted tigers. The human chain was followed by a colorful rally in Mongla.

Children’s Art Competition

An art competition titled “ The Sundarbans’ Royal Bengal Tiger” was held on the day before the Global Tiger Day 2019. Pashur River Waterkeeper, Waterkeepers Bangladesh and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) jointly organized the art competition on 28 July, 2019, Sunday at Mongla port Municipality Saint Paul’s High School. At the end of the competition, the award ceremony was presided over by Sheikh Mohammad Noor Alam, Pashur River Waterkeeper. Mayor of Mongla Port Municipality MD Julfikar Ali attended as the chief guest of the event while Father Zekab, the pastor of St. Paul’s religion, president of the Mongla Press Club H.M. Dulal, Brother Victor De Rojario, additional general secretory of the Mongla Port Authority Employees Union MD Jamal Uddin Choudhury Zahid, leader of Awami League Tipu Sultan, lecturer Shema Proshad Sen, DR Aparna Adhikari, Lecturer Pradeep Adhikari were present in the meeting as special guests.