Environmental activists, journalists, women leaders, youth representatives, and civil society members on Friday demanded urgent government action to protect natural water bodies and address the growing climate crisis during a human chain organized by COAST Foundation in front of the Bhola District Press Club on World Environment Day 2026.

Speakers warned that climate change is intensifying environmental challenges across Bangladesh, particularly in coastal regions, where irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, excessive precipitation, waterlogging, and rising salinity are becoming increasingly common.

They stressed that rivers, canals, wetlands, ponds, and other natural water bodies serve as critical nature-based solutions for climate resilience but are rapidly disappearing due to illegal encroachment and land filling.

According to the speakers, the destruction of these ecosystems is disrupting natural water flows and reducing rainwater retention capacity, forcing greater reliance on groundwater.

Unregulated extraction through deep tube wells for agricultural and industrial purposes has accelerated groundwater depletion, causing water tables to fall sharply and leaving many tube wells inoperable. The resulting scarcity of safe drinking water is becoming particularly acute in coastal communities.

The human chain called for the immediate eviction of illegal occupiers from rivers, canals, wetlands, and ponds, strict enforcement of environmental and land-use laws, and restoration of natural water flows.

Participants also urged the government to launch a coordinated national program focused on protecting and rehabilitating open water systems, promoting rainwater harvesting, reviving traditional water retention mechanisms, and ensuring sustainable groundwater management.

The event was moderated by M.A. Hasan, Head of Climate Change at COAST Foundation. Among those addressing the gathering were Nayemat Ullah, District Correspondent of Prothom Alo; Md. Taslim, General Secretary of Bhola District Krishak Dal; women leader Nurjahan Nila; Advocate Kamal Uddin Sultan; Harunur Rashid Shimul, District Correspondent of Daily Bangladesh Alo; Sumaiya Akhter of BD Clean; and Razib Ghosh of the COAST Climate Resilience Project.

M.A. Hasan emphasized the urgent need to recover illegally occupied rivers, canals, and ponds and prevent further encroachment. He said restoring and conserving water bodies would improve rainwater storage, groundwater recharge, safe drinking water availability, and ecological balance.

Speakers also highlighted other environmental threats. Nayemat Ullah blamed illegal sand extraction for degrading water bodies and worsening groundwater decline.

Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Member Secretary of Amra Bhola Bashi, raised concerns over unchecked tree felling for brick kilns.

Harunur Rashid Shimul alleged that canals and government ponds in Bhola are being occupied for development projects, while Nurjahan Nila called for the closure of environmentally harmful brick kilns, citing health risks and the loss of fertile agricultural land.

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