Free dying Louhaganj River

People from all walks of life formed a human chain beside the Louhajang River in Housing area of the town yesterday with the slogan "Nodi Khal Rokkha Kori, Sustha Poribesh Gori," demanding that the river be freed from the grabbers.

Tangail district administration organised the programme and also held a rally at the same place for drumming up public support in this regard.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Tangail Mahbub Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Anwar Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Monira Sultana, Tangail Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Khorshed Alam, Secretary of Tangail Press Club Zafar Ahmed, Vice-President of Tangail Club Harun-ur-Rashid and Enamul Karim Shahid, convenor of Nodi-Khal-Bil Uddhar O Bon O Poribesh Rokkha Andolon Tangail, addressed the rally.

Speakers at the rally said the Louhajang River, lifeline of Tangail town, is now almost dead due to rampant grabbing and filling up.

As the normal flow of the river has stopped, the town gets waterlogged after a slight rain, causing sufferings to the town dwellers and also inviting environmental disaster.

The town will be unfit for living very soon if the normal flow of the river is not restored and protected, they added.

The DC said the hyacinth plants were cleared from the river a few weeks ago to keep the water flow of the river normal. "Now work to demarcate the shorelines of the river is going on to free it from the grabbers," he said.

"The rivers and canals are assets of the state and it is the duty of all to protect them," he added.

He also urged all levels of people in Tangail to create awareness over the issue and sought their help to revive the flow of the river.

Earlier, the DC inaugurated a signature campaign and leaflet distribution programmes to create awareness among people in this regard.