The world heritage Sundarbans is one of the foundations of the safety of our country’s environment, economy and coastal public life. It is not just a forest; it is a protection for coastal people against natural disasters and a habitat for numerous animals and plants. Steps must be taken now to save the coast, namely the Sundarbans, and at the same time, members of the CDO Youth Team and the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) have submitted a human chain and memorandum to the Forest Department demanding state recognition of Sundarbans Day on February 14. On Saturday (February 14), CDO Executive Director Gazi Al Imran spoke at the Shyamnagar Upazila Press Club premises under the leadership of senior volunteers Hafizur Rahman and Anisur Rahman Milon of the CDO Youth Team and chaired by teacher and journalist Ranjit Barman. Riaz Hossain, Nur Nahar Parvin, Sadia Sultana, Rubina Parvin also spoke. The speakers said that the Sundarbans are currently facing various crises, including illegal deforestation and encroachment, illegal hunting and killing of wildlife, selling snails from the Sundarbans, fishing through poisoning and illegal nets, increasing pollution in rivers and canals, and the impact of climate change. On the occasion of Sundarbans Day, the speakers presented their demands and said that it is important to take strict surveillance and legal measures against illegal fishing, poisoning and use of electric nets in the Sundarbans. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen regular mobile teams and patrol activities in forests and rivers, conduct awareness campaigns to protect biodiversity and strengthen co-management by involving local people, create alternative livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent fishermen and boatmen, take effective initiatives to stop industrial waste and plastic pollution in rivers and canals, form a voluntary monitoring team by involving local youth to protect the natural resources of the Sundarbans and involve youth in all awareness-raising activities, and request the state to recognize the Sundarbans Day. They also said that we believe that it is possible to protect the natural balance of the Sundarbans with the coordinated efforts of the Forest Department, local administration and people. Present at the event were senior volunteers of the CDO Youth Team, Abdullah Al Mamun, Rahanul Islam, Pranab Biswas, Abu Raihan, Imran Hossain, Naeem Islam, Manjurul Islam, Akram Hossain, Samira Numaisha, Shohana Akhter, Rabeya Akhter, Sharmin Akhter, Nurnahar Parveen, Jannat Ara, Farzana Akhter, Fatema Khatun, Roshni, Najma Parveen, Fahmida.
After the human chain, the members of the CDO Youth Team submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Forest Conservator through the Assistant Conservator of Forests of the West Sundarbans Forest Division.