They also demanded that the government save the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Debdholai and Shitalakkha rivers from the grabbers.

The demands were made from the meeting held at Shahid Minar in the city.

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised the meeting on the occasion of the

' International Day of Action for Rivers' as part of its 'Save River Buriganga' movement.

Speakers at the meeting stressed the need for following ecological and environment-friendly processes in river-management. They said setting up of small and large dams and bridges in India, Bangladesh and Nepal in the past have yielded some temporary benefits, yet the long-term adverse effects of these are now crystal-clear.

They reiterated Bapa's commitment to creating awareness among the mass people, including the civil society, for protecting the rivers.

Bapa will unite some of the social organisations as well as environmentalist groups of India and Nepal in order to expand its river-saving movement, they informed.

Adviser to the former interim government and Bapa Vice-President A S M Shahjahan was the chief guest in the meeting while Bapa Vice-President Syed A N M Wahed presided over.

Former chairman of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr. Rashid-e-Mahboob and Bapa Secretary General Muhidul Haq Khan also spoke.