Bashundhara Shuvosangho, Chuadanga unit formed a human chain on the old Mathabhanga Bridge in the Shahid Hasan Chattar area of Chuadanga on Saturday, demanding the preservation of the Mathabhanga River.

The members of Shuvosangho urged the authorities to take measures to prevent encroachment and pollution of the river.

Leaders of the Save Mathabhanga River Committee, members of various social and cultural organisations, and students from different schools and colleges joined the human chain organised by Bashundhara Shuvosangho.

Hemanta Kumar Singh Roy, general secretary of the district unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho, presided over the event. Shahjahan Ali, general secretary of the Save Mathabhanga River Movement and former principal, and Habibi Zahir Raihan, president of Udichi Chuadanga, addressed the gathering.

Shahjahan Ali said, “The Mathabhanga River once supported launches and steamers, with entire settlements growing along its banks." 

He continued, “Today, that existence is under threat. People are grabbing the river as they please and polluting it. Even in peak season, its former appearance is gone. Pollution has robbed the river of its navigability.”

Habibi Zahir Raihan said, “Household waste, along with garbage from fish, meat and vegetable markets in the lower bazar, is being dumped into the river.”

He added, “It has turned into a dumping ground, yet no one seems to care. The administration must act more decisively to save the river from encroachment and pollution.”

Jisan Ahmed, adviser of the Chuadanga district unit of Bashundhara Shuvosangho and district correspondent of Kaler Kantho; vice-president Munsi Abu Saif; finance secretary Palash Kumar Saha; publicity and publication secretary Shamsuzzohar Rana; office secretary Sheikh Liton; sports secretary Salman Farsi; social welfare secretary Saifullah Al Sadiq; executive members Mikail Hossain, Russel Ali, Samiul Islam and Nafis Ahmed, among others, joined the event.

Students from various schools and colleges also joined the programme, led by Liza Hossain, sewing instructor of Bashundhara Shuvosangho.