Human chain in Bangladesh to demand dredging of Padma river
By IANSWednesday, April 14, 2010
DHAKA - Villagers backed by several non-government organisations and environmentalists formed a human chain to demand early dredging of the silted Padma river, one of Bangladeshs main river systems.
Residents of Godagari sub-district in Rajshahi, bordering Indias West Bengal, formed a human chain and held a rally demanding that the river should be dredged immediately to restore the normal flow of its water, New Age newspaper reported Wednesday.
They said dredging of the river was now an urgent need to protect the environment and livelihood of the people of Bangladesh’s northern region.
Padma receives water from the Ganga under the Ganga Water Treaty signed by India and Bangladesh in 1997.
Most river systems in largely riverine Bangladesh are silted as no dredging was conducted since the British left in 1947.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government has taken up dredging work on a priority basis. Part of a $1 billion loan from India is to be used for de-silting rivers.
