Sit-in to protest Karnaphuli River protection

Eight environmental and social organisations staged a sit-in protest in Chattogram on Thursday, alleging that government lawyers are siding with encroachers in an ongoing High Court case concerning the eviction of illegal structures along the Karnaphuli River.

The protest was held at Cheragi Pahar Square under the banner of the Chattogram River and Canal Protection Movement on Thursday.

The programme was presided over by freedom fighter Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman and conducted by S.M. Peyar Ali, president of the Karnaphuli River Sampan Boatmen Welfare Association Federation.

Participating organizations included the Bangladesh Environment Forum, Srishti, Karnaphuli River Sampan Boatmen Welfare Association Federation, Karnaphuli Protection Council, United Social Network, Rezaul Karim Sikdar Foundation, and Bangladesh Seamen Workers Federation.

Speakers at the protest expressed concern over what they described as non-cooperation by government-appointed lawyers in the High Court case regarding the removal of illegal structures from the Karnaphuli River.

They alleged that some government legal representatives were taking positions favourable to encroachers rather than protecting public interests.

The organisations announced a three-point demand, warning that they would launch a larger movement, including the suspension of sampan and vessel operations on the Karnaphuli River, if their demands were not met.

Their demands include the withdrawal of government legal officials whom they accuse of opposing the public-interest litigation, the implementation of High Court directives to free the Karnaphuli River from encroachment and pollution, and a large-scale tree plantation and conservation programme along the riverbanks.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman criticized what he described as the continued exploitation of public resources by influential groups. He alleged that illegal encroachers were receiving support while efforts to protect the river were being undermined.

Freedom fighter Sohrab Hossain said the Karnaphuli River had played a crucial role in the country’s economic development and urged the authorities to take immediate action to remove encroachments and pollution from the river.

Journalist Aliur Rahman, general secretary of the Chattogram River and Canal Protection Movement, said environmental activists had hoped recent government commitments to protecting rivers and canals would lead to stronger action against illegal occupiers. Instead, he alleged, government lawyers were assisting those responsible for encroachment.

Other speakers included Jane Alam, vice-president of CAB Chattogram Metropolitan; journalist Kamal Parvez, president of the Karnaphuli Protection Council; M. Nurul Huda Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Seamen Workers Federation; Zahidul Karim Bappi, executive director of the Rezaul Karim Sikdar Foundation; Jafar Ahmed, senior vice-president of the Karnaphuli River Sampan Boatmen Welfare Association Federation; Lokman Dayal, senior joint secretary of the federation; Amir Hossain, director of United Social Network; Mozammel Hossain, president of the Hand-Operated Large Sampan Boatmen Association; Korban Ali, general secretary of the Char Patharghata Bridge Ghat Sampan Association; Suman Roy, general secretary of the Fishermen’s Association; and social worker Arman Hossain.

The protesters called on the authorities to take immediate steps to protect the Karnaphuli River and ensure compliance with court directives regarding river conservation and public access.