Different organizations called on the government to take initiatives so that Sundarbans Day is recognized both nationally and internationally.
They also urged all to come forward in protecting the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The day is being observed in Bangladesh on February 14 every year since 2002. This year the day is being observed with the slogan, 'Love the Sundarbans on World Valentine's Day’.
Marking the day, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and the National Committee for Saving the Sundarbans jointly organized a webinar on Monday, said a press release.
Addressing the webinar, Bapa President Sultana Kamal said the message of the importance of the Sundarbans in the existence of the world must be disseminated among youth and people living close to the forest.
She said that if the forest cannot be protected and preserved then the world will have to pay a heavy price for it.
Jahangirnagar University Professor Anu Muhammad, at the same webinar, termed the Sundarbans as a story of love that has turned into a tragedy. He alleged that the government should start lobbying with the outside world for finding out ways to protect the forest, instead of it going the other way.
Khulna University Professor Abdullah Harun Chowdhury also spoke at the webinar. He blamed industrialization and urbanization for the poor state of the forest. The professor said that the number of trees and animals has gone down over the years, which has created an adverse impact on the overall biodiversity of the forest.
In Satkhira, a voluntary organization, Sharub Youth Team, organized a program in Munshiganj Bazar area in the morning. The program was joined by different bodies and individuals, including leaders of Southern Charity Foundation and Sundarbans Press Club.
Volunteer for Bangladesh organizes a human chain in front of Satkhira New Market intersection marking the Sundarbans Day on Monday February 14, 2022 Dhaka TribuneSaiduzzaman Sayeed, vice-chairman of Shyamnagar Upazila, at the event said that the Sundarbans is not only the largest mangrove forest of the world, but also home to a large number of rare species of the planet. He said that the forest must be recognized and must be protected for the good of mankind.
The organizers of the event urged the government to take initiatives for the recognition of Sundarbans Day internationally. They said that the people of Satkhira and adjoining districts had been voicing the same demand for the last 15 years.
Meanwhile, an organization named Volunteer for Bangladesh organized a human chain in front of Satkhira New Market intersection at around 10am. Speakers at the human chain demanded that the day be recognized at the national level so that the people of the country are united in observing the day.
Speakers at the human chain said that the forest must be protected at any cost and projects which might threaten the biodiversity of the Sundarbans must be avoided.
A poster-writing competition was organized in the Tala area of Satkhira marking Sundarbans Day on Monday. A voluntary organization named Amra Bondhu organized the event, which was attended by nearly fifty participants.
To mark the day, a similar event was organized in coordination with the Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge, BARCIK, in the Shyamnagar area of Satkhira on Monday.
Sundarbans Academy, Sundarbans Division, various press clubs and various organizations have been observing 'Sundarbans Day' on the 14th February in the districts adjoining the Sundarbans since 2002.
