Mongla (Bagerhat), MAY 28 (V7N) – Speakers at an environmental rally in Mongla on Wednesday morning underscored the critical importance of collective participation and efforts to preserve the life and nature of coastal areas, including the vast Sundarbans. The rally, held at the Mongla Upazila Parishad auditorium, was organized on the occasion of the "Sabuj Sathi Award" for special contributions to coastal life and nature conservation.

The event was jointly organized by the national climate and environmental organization Dharitree Rakhaye Amara (Dhara), Waterkeepers Bangladesh, and Pashur River Waterkeeper.

Sharif Jamil, central member secretary of Dharitree Rakhaye Amara (Dhara) and coordinator of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, presided over the rally. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akhter Sumi attended as the chief guest, with Professor K.M. Rabbani, Principal of Mongla Government College, as the guest of honor. Special guests included Tofajzel Sohel (Waterkeeper of Khowai River, Waterkeepers Bangladesh), Md. Nur Alam Sheikh (Pashur River Waterkeeper, coordinator of Amara to protect the Sundarbans), Md. Salim (Upazila Agriculture Officer), Prashant Kumar Howlader, Md. Selim (Principal of Mongla Technical and Business Management College), and Subhash Chandra Biswas (tree-loving green guardian). Other speakers included Sundarbans tour operator Molla Zahid Hossain, environmental activist Hironmoy Roy, Israfil Boyati, Abdur Rashid Howlader, Kamala Sarkar, Hasib Sardar, and Mehedi Hasan.

Chief Guest Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akhter Sumi stated that the current government places special importance on environmental conservation. She emphasized that no activities contrary to laws and regulations would be tolerated in the Sundarbans, an environmentally critical area.

This year's Sabuj Sathi Award in Mongla for tree plantation and environmental conservation was presented to Professor K.M. Rabbani, Principal of Mongla Government College. Professor Rabbani, in his acceptance speech, highlighted that "love for trees is our social education," a value instinctively learned from parents and grandparents. He stressed the importance of considering the provision of food and shelter for animals and birds when planting trees.

In his presidential address, Sharif Jamil emphasized that despite the severe nature of the environmental crisis, "many great personalities who have contributed to environmental conservation are spread all over Bangladesh." He expressed belief that showcasing these positive examples could encourage greater public participation in environmental protection. Jamil reiterated, "There is no alternative to the collective participation and efforts of everyone to preserve the life and nature of the coast, including the great Sundarbans."

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