Staff Reporter:

Local civil society leaders have expressed concern saying that, the environment is facing a serious threat due to random extraction of sand from various parts of the Jamuna River with the patronization of relevant administration, transportation of sand using truck on roads and activities of unauthorized brick kilns set up at different places in the district.

They said that if awareness is not raised and effective steps are not taken now to protect the environment, the Sirajganj district town and its surrounding areas will become uninhabitable in the future.

The speakers came up with the remarks at a discussion meeting, award and tree sapling distribution programme at the District Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in Sirajganj Municipality town at 10:30 am on Friday (June 5) marking the World Environment Day-2026. The programme was organized by Educational Network Bangladesh.

The programme was presided over by its Chairman Muhammad Bin Emran, while Saidur Rahman Bachchu, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries and General Secretary of district BNP among others attended as chief guest.

During his speech, Bachchu  said, “Protecting the environment is not just a one-day programme, it is the moral responsibility for all of us. The new generation must be more involved in environmental protection and environment friendly activities. Besides, tree plantations must be turned into a social movement to protect our environment. Otherwise, no one will get rid from the paw of climate change impact.”

Speakers said, one labour leader named Balu Sattar is now controlling local administration by paying illegal benefits and lifting sands in the dark of night from different parts of the Jamuna deceiving eyes of all concerned people and making illegal money putting the town and town dwellers at risk. Due to lifting of sand from where and there of the river and carrying the sands with several hundreds of bulkheads and trucks, both the river and roads are now at risk. In impact of the sand lifting, erosion by Jamuna is increasing making many people homeless and landless. Even after publishing several news-reports on different print and electronic media, the concerned administration is playing silent role in this regard due to unknown reasons. As a result, anger is prevailing among the local residents, they added.

They further said, the environment is facing serious threats due to illegal brick kilns and random sand lifting from the Jamuna River in Sirajganj district. Everyone must be aware now to protect the environment.

Dween Mohammad Sabbir, one of the guests said, “I am very inspired by today’s event. Especially the awareness of the new generation about the environment and children’s rights has made me optimistic. We will leave one day, but if the future generation comes forward to protect the environment and protect the rights of children, then our society will be more beautiful and livable.”

Prizes were distributed among the winning students who participated in various competitions on speeches, recitations, quizzes, debates, exhibitions and tree plantations organized on the occasion of World Environment Day. In addition, free saplings were also distributed among the participants.

People from all walks of life including teachers, students, guardians, socio-cultural and political activists were also present at the event. The speakers called on everyone to work together to protect the environment and establish children’s rights. They also threatened that, if illegal sand lifting from the river is not stopped, town dwellers will compel to go for tougher movements in future.