CGED forms human chain demanding protection of rivers, biodiversity

To mark World Environment Day, the Center for Global Environment and Development (CGED) organized a human chain on the main road in front of Japan Garden City in Mohammadpur, the capital, today, demanding urgent action to protect the environment, biodiversity, and dying rivers.

More than 100 conscious citizens from various strata of society—including businessmen, teachers, engineers, students, and the general secretary and members of the Japan Garden City Welfare Association—spontaneously joined the program to voice their concerns over environmental degradation.

The entire event was conducted and supervised by Dr. Md. Abdul Wahab, Executive Director of CGED. The Dhaka Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Team provided overall organizational support to make the initiative a success.

Call for Joint Action

During the human chain, participants carried banners and festoons, chanting slogans to raise awareness about local and global climate crises. Speakers highlighted the alarming rate of pollution in urban areas and called for immediate collective efforts to save the country’s water bodies from illegal encroachment and waste dumping.

Among the key speakers who addressed the gathering were: Sadar Ali Biswas, Chairman of CGED, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, President of the Dhaka Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Team and Belal Uddin, Member of the Dhaka Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Team

The speakers remarked, "To leave a healthy and livable planet for future generations, we must take coordinated steps right now to protect our immediate environment, biodiversity, and rivers. Alongside the enforcement of environmental laws, public awareness and active participation are crucial to curb plastic pollution and promote afforestation."

Leaders of the Japan Garden City Welfare Association also expressed solidarity with the cause, emphasizing that city dwellers must play a proactive role in conserving local green spaces and water bodies. The program concluded with the participants taking a collective oath to actively resist any activities that harm nature.