By Md. Ohidur Rahman from Netrokona

A “Netrokona District People’s Organization Coordination Meeting on the Protection of Life, Nature, Environment, and Culture“ was recently held at the Netrokona Sadar Upazila Parishad Hall. The event was organized by the Netrokona District People’s Organization Committee with the support of BARCIK.

Representatives from 100 different community organizations including farmers, women and men, youth, adolescents, elderly, Dalits, fisherfolk, blacksmiths, potters, cottage industry workers, indigenous groups, the Upazila Green Solidarity Committee, the District Education-Culture-Environment and Diversity Protection Committee, anti-discrimination student groups, and animal welfare organizations like “Cats & Dogs” and “Save the Animals”actively participated in the meeting.

The meeting was presided over by Sayed Ahmed Khan Bacchu, the convener of the Netrokona District Public Organization Coordination Committee. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC-General), Md. Rafiquzzaman, attended as the chief guest, while special guests included Md. Hasib-ul-Ahsan (Assistant Commissioner of Land, Sadar Upazila), writer and principal Anwar Hasan, Assistant Professor Md. Nazmul Kabir Sarkar (President, District Education-Culture-Environment and Diversity Protection Committee), former District Press Club Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman Khan, Imam Hossain Mehdi (President, Madan Upazila Green Solidarity Committee), Siddiqur Rahman (President, Atpara Upazila Green Solidarity Committee), and Syed Ali Biswas (Director, BARCIK’s Agriculture, Biodiversity, and Food Security Division).

Speaking at the event, Chief Guest ADC Rafiquzzaman emphasized the importance of protecting Netrokona’s natural resources and environment. He urged that the meeting’s recommendations be submitted to the district administration so that appropriate projects could be undertaken. “We must protect the natural resources around us to survive. We should avoid any actions that harm nature,” he said.

During the meeting, representatives from public organizations, environmental activists, researchers, teachers, and university students discussed several proposals and recommendations on preventing pollution, encroachment, and destruction of rivers, canals, wetlands, haors, ponds, and other water bodies in Netrokona town and surrounding areas. They agreed to submit these recommendations to the district administration and relevantauthorities.

The event was moderated by Ohidur Rahman, Regional Coordinator of BARCIK Netrokona, and began with a welcome speech by Syed Ali Biswas, Director of BARCIK. More than 100 representatives from public organizations across Kalmakanda, Madan, Atpara, Netrokona Sadar, Tarakanda, and Kendua Upazila took part in the meeting.