In a concerted effort to conserve the vital water bodies of Rajshahi, a program titled ‘Jadahar Bandhan’ was organized at the Sonadighi Bank on Tuesday. The event, held from 11 am to 12:30 pm, was a collaboration among various environmental and social organizations including Sabuj Solidarity, Environment Movement, Oikya Parishad, Yash, Youth Forum, and Barsik.
Moderated by Atiqur Rahman, General Secretary of Youth Action for Social Change (YASH), the program saw active participation from notable speakers such as Mahbub Tungku, Convenor of the Environment Movement Unity Council, and Nazmul Hossain, Member Secretary of Green Solidarity. They were joined by Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of Save the Nature and Life, Samiul Alim, President of Yash, Nadeem Sina, General Secretary of Rajshahi Mahanagar Students Federation, Upen Rabidas, President of Adivasi Jubo Parishad, and Subhash Chandra Hembram, Organizing Secretary of National Tribal Council Central Committee.
In his address, Mahbub Tungku emphasized the foresight of Rajshahi’s ancestors in creating ponds, which were integral to the community’s environmental management. He lamented the current trend of covering ponds with concrete, which he argued was counterproductive to true conservation efforts.
“Today’s Rajshahi is feeling the heat,” Tungku stated. “The ponds dug by our ancestors served a crucial purpose, and the current approach of turning them into concrete pools is harmful. We need to acquire and preserve privately owned ponds and encourage owners to maintain them.”
Mizanur Rahman echoed these sentiments, criticizing the cosmetic approach to city development that prioritizes aesthetic improvements over functional conservation. “The development of Rajshahi is akin to a makeover from a beauty parlour,” he said. “We need to preserve our natural resources, not replace them with tiled swimming pools.”
Nazmul Hossain highlighted nine key demands aimed at conserving Rajshahi’s ponds and reservoirs:
Preserve biodiversity by conserving all ponds.
Acquire privately owned ponds.
Provide incentives to pond owners.
Ensure 10 to 12 percent of the area is designated for reservoirs.
Ensure 15 percent of forest land in Rajshahi city.
Retrieve and excavate filled ponds and reservoirs.
Preserve 952 ponds in accordance with a High Court judgment.
The program concluded with a memorandum containing these nine demands being presented to the Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation. Copies were also sent to various ministries, including the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister.
This initiative underscores the critical need for sustainable development practices that prioritize environmental conservation over mere aesthetic enhancements. The collaborative efforts of these organizations highlight a community’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage for future generations.
For more updates on this and other environmental initiatives in Rajshahi, stay tuned to our portal.
Green Time Editorial Body