By Gazi Mahida Mizan, Satkhira

A human chain was organized in Satkhira demanding a clean and healthy city through proper waste management yesterday in front of Shaheed Abdur Razzak Park in Satkhira. It was jointly organized by BARCIK and the Education, Culture and Diversity Protection Team mostly led by the youths.

Participants in the human chain held placards with slogans that bear the different messages such as“Let’s join hands for a pollution-free Satkhira”, “Clean surroundings mean no disease”, “Clean environment, healthy life—foundation for sustainable development” and “Let’s build a pollution-free Satkhira” etc. They demand to build clean city through proper waste management.

The speakers at the event expressed concern that due to the lack of proper waste management, Satkhira town has turned into a dumping ground, with garbage scattered everywhere. They pointed out that there is no proper drainage system, and rainwater stagnates, carrying waste throughout the city. There is no designated place for waste disposal, and no dumping station has been established. They went on saying, despite Satkhira being classified as a first-class municipality, the standard of municipal services is at a low point. If this situation continues Satkhira will no longer be a livable city.

The participants demanded the allocation of specific places for waste disposal, improvement of the drainage system, and establishment of a proper dumping station to ensure effective waste management and a clean city.

The human chain was presided over by human rights activist Madhab Chandra Dutta, with speeches delivered by civic leader Professor Mozammel Hossain, civic activist Ali Nur Khan Babul, landless community leaders Abdus Samad and Mofizur Rahman, Education, Culture and Diversity Protection Team president Abdur Rahman, volunteers Sifat Hossain and Imti Jamil, BARCIK officer Gazi Mahida Mizan, and youth organizer Jahangir Alam, among others.