The Bhola District and Town Protection Sangram Parishad organised the programme, followed by handing over of a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

The processionists paraded the main roads of the town and held a rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.

The rally was addressed by among others, Alhaj Golam Nabi Almagir, Convenor of the Parishad.

The speakers said the 15 lakh people of Bhola will launch tougher agitation if steps are not taken to protect them from erosion and flooding.

They said the area of Bhola is shrinking only due to erosion and lack of protection embankments.

Besides, fishes worth crores of Taka have been washed away and other resources damaged by the current floods, they said.

The mighty river devoured about two hundred square kilometer area of Bhola, Daulat Khan and Tajumuddin upazilas in the last few years displacing about two lakh people but the government did not take any measure to stop the erosion or to rehabilitate the landless people.

The erosion took a serious turn during the current flood, rendering over 50,000 people homeless. The displaced people are leading a subhuman life on river banks and high lands.

Most areas of Bhola Sadar, Daulatkhan and Tajumuddin upazilas are now inundated as the sea level is still 3 to 5 feet above the normal level due to the influence of full moon.

Several thousand marooned people in the areas and are without food and drinking water, according to reports reaching the district town.

The speakers claimed that the district administration did not give any relief to the flood affected and displaced people.