Speakers at a discussion marking the Sundarbans Day in Bagerhat yesterday urged the government to observe it nationally for raising awareness among people about the importance of protecting the world’s largest mangrove forest.
They said although the people of different coastal districts adjacent to the Sundarbans, including Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, have been observing Sundarbans Day on the day since 2002 their demand to observe it nationally remained unheeded for the last 14 years.
The speakers renewed their demand this time at the discussion organised by Bagerhat Press Club.
The event was presided over by President of Bagerhat Press Club Advocate Mohammad Shah Alam Tuku while MP Advocate Mir Shawkat Ali Badshah of Bagerhat-2 constituency was present as the chief guest.
Acting deputy commissioner of Bagerhat Mohammad Shah Alam Sardar, Advocate Ramkrishna Basu, Advocate Parveen Ahmed and Secretary of Bagerhat Press Club Mafizur Rahman Mahfuz were present on the occasion, among others.
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Khokon, director of Rupantor, a Khulna-based non-government organisation, said the decision of observing the Sundarbans Day was taken at the first Sundarbans conference, organised by Rupantar, Khulna University and Bapa, in Khulna on February 14, 2001 where they had also urged the government to observed the day at the national level.
Although different press clubs, Sundarbans Academy and other organisations in the coastal districts have been observing the day since 2002 but their demand for observing the day nationally remained unheeded for the last 14 years, he said.
Bagerhat Press Club President advocate Mohammad Shah Alam Tuku said the Sundarbans is protecting people from natural disasters and this mangrove forest needs to be saved at any cost.
Prof Dr Mahmud Hossain of Khulna University Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline said if the government takes an initiative to observe the Sundarbans Day nationally then people will get a chance to know more about the Sundarbans and also it will create interest among them about the forest.
As in previous years, the Sundarbans Day was observed yesterday in a befitting manner in all the districts adjacent to the Sundarbans.
Several organisations have chalked out various programmes, including discussions and rallies, in Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira districts to mark the day.
Rupantar submitted a memorandum to the Khulna deputy commissioner to press home their several demands, including observation of Sundarbans Day nationally.
The Sundarbans is the country’s only natural tiger habitat with a range of 6,017 square kilometers. The Sundarbans is also a popular tourism spot due to its beautiful landscape while a huge number of tourists visit the forest each year.