On Saturday, February 14, 2026, Sundarbans Day was observed in Mongla under the slogan “Sundarbans is my mother, we will not let it be destroyed.” In the afternoon, a rally and public meeting were held at the Mongla Municipal Shaheed Minar square. Speakers urged the authorities to take necessary measures to protect the Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The event was organized by DHORA, Waterkeepers Bangladesh, and Pashur River Waterkeeper. Ahead of the rally, children’s art competitions on the Sundarbans, a tiger drill, stick games, and cultural programs were held. Co-organizers of the programs included Uttaran, CNRS, Badabon Sangha, and Service Bangladesh.
Sharif Jamil, Member Secretary of DHORA’s Central Committee and Coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh attended as the Chief Guest in the public meeting. Md. Noor Alam Sheikh, Coordinator of Sundarban Rokhhay Amra and Pashur River Waterkeeper chaired the meeting.
In his speech, Sharif Jamil said “Every year on Sundarbans Day we call for its protection, yet the forest is becoming increasingly endangered. The UN has advised the government to conduct a proper strategic environmental assessment in the southwest region including the Sundarbans. We want the new government to carry out an inclusive and scientific transparent assessment.”
Md. Nur Alam Sheikh said “The Sundarbans must be protected from coal and industrial pollution. No destructive activities will be tolerated. Banditry in the forest has increased; intelligence surveillance must be strengthened in adjacent areas, and alternative livelihoods must be created for communities dependent on the Sundarbans.”
Special guests of the program included BNP leaders Abdul Mannan Hawlader, Mahbubur Rahman Manik, Abu Hossain Poni; athlete Sheikh Rustum Ali; Mongla Press Club President Ahsan Habib Hasan; businessman Nasir Talukder; fisherman Bidyut Mondol; conservationist Israfil Boyati; cultural organizer Jane Alom Babu; lyricist Molla Al Mamun; Service Bangladesh’s Mostafizur Rahman Milon; women leaders Afroza Hira, Komola Sarkar, Brishti Sarkar; Pashur River Waterkeeper Hasib Sardar; youth leader Mehedi Hasan, among others.
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