Environmentalists formed a 71-km-long human chain on the banks of the Turag River this morning demanding an end to pollution and grabbing of the river.

The Turag flows across Tagnail, Gazipur and Dhaka districts, and is linked to the Jamuna river system through the Lohajong River in Tangail. It joins the Buriganga River near Mirpur in the capital. The Environment Department has already declared it an 'ecologically critical area' (ECA).

The human chain was organised by different environmental groups, led by Bangladesh Nodi Bachao Andolan (Save the River Movement, Bangladesh), to press home their four-point demand to save the Turag.

Through the human chain, the activists demanded to free the Turag from illegal grabbing, and setting up environment friendly industry to ensure pollution free water in the river.

They formed the human chain at 15 different places, including Kaliakoir Bazar, Kadda Bazar, Tongi Bridge, Kamarpara Bridge near Ijtema ground area, Mirzapur Bazar in Sadar upazila of Gazipur district, Ashulia, Amin Bazar Bridge and Basila Bridge in Savar upazila of Dhaka district, along the banks of the river. The programme started at 10:00am ended around 12noon.

Save the Environment Movement, Bangladesh president Anwar Sadat, its vice presidents Manir Hossain, Khandaker Aminul Islam Tutul, convener Manowar Hossain Rony, convener of Buriganga Banchao Andolon Mihir Biswas and representatives of other environmental organisations attended the programme.

The speakers at the programme blamed factories built alongside the Turag River for river pollution and alleged that the wastes of 6,000-7000 factories are dumped into the Turag River.

Speaking on the occasion at Kadda Bazar beside Turag River in the city, Save the Environment Movement, Bangladesh president Anwar Sadat said the government should bring those to book who are polluting and grabbing the rivers.

Anwar Sadat also demanded realisation of compensation from the responsible organizations and distribution of it among the victims.