Environmentalists demand release of Medha Patkar

Expressing solidarity with 'Save Narmada Movement' leader Medha Patkar, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) formed a human chain in front of the National Museum in the city.

The Bapa leaders said she has been on hunger strike for the last 15 days in protest against the authorities' decision to raise the height of the dam from 110 to 121 metres and that her condition has been deteriorating alarmingly.

The move would displace 36,000 more families from nearby areas, they added.

The Indian government has arrested Medha Patkar and taken her to All India Institute of Medical Science in Delhi recently.

Medha Patkar also raised a strong voice against the construction of Tipaimukh dam, which would have negative impacts on Bangladesh, said Dr MA Matin, joint secretary of Bapa.

The speakers called on the Indian government to stop construction of Tipaimukh dam and cancel the river-linking project.

Most of the rivers in the country have already lost navigability as water flow from the upstream has declined, they said.

If the Tipaimukh dam is constructed on the Barak river, water level of Surma and Kushiara would go down to five feet even during the monsoon, they said.

Joint Secretary of Bapa Mihir Biswas, Dr Nuruddin of Sheba, Alamgir Kabir of Green Voice, Sharifuzzaman of Nagorik Sanghati, Mahidul Haque Khan of Bapa, Abdur Rashid Sabur of Angikar Bangaldesh and Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan of Peshajibi Sangram Parishad also spoke.