A road rally and meeting was jointly arranged by Pashur River Waterkeeper, BAPA and Waterkeepers Bangladesh on 28th January, 2017, evening, at Sundartola village, Chila Union, Mongla. Discussion was held on Pashur River erosion, unauthorized dredging, unauthorized sand extraction and river traffic management.
The meeting was chaired by local citizen Md. Jamal Fakir and Md. Noor Alam Sheikh, Pashur River Waterkeeper was the Chef Guest. In addition, Tanjim Hossain Mukul, BAPA member of Mongla, spoke for the cause. Among the local representatives, Niash Rai, Pintu Rai, Probhosh Morol, Fazlur Rahman gave their speech. The chief guest Md. Noor Alam Shekh mentioned in his speech that the river is affected due to people’s own interest in money. River erosion is causing great deal of damage to the villagers, for example, transforming them into homeless people. Unauthorized industrialization and dredging in addition with sand extraction from river and river traffic mismanagement are causing the river to erode faster. He, however, requested the government to take necessary actions to save the river from further damage. Nibash Rai mentioned that how severely their livelihood is affected due to river erosion. He stated, ‘everything from home to road is being engulfed by the river because of erosion’. He asked the villagers to continue the movement towards rescuing the river. Tanjim Hossain, BAPA member declared that on 12th February another movement would be held at Chila Bazar. He urged the villagers to take part in the movement. The chairman of the meeting Md. Jamal Fakir urged alternate work facility for the shrimp fry catchers in order to save shrimps in the Pashur River.