National

‘Sunderbans Day’ being observed

Sunderbans Day is being observed in the country’s costal districts to raise awareness among people about the importance of protecting the world’s largest mangrove forest on Sunday.Sunderbans Academy and other social and environmental organisations in the coastal districts, including Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna and Satkhira have chalked out various programmes to mark the day. The programmes include discussion, rally and human chain.Meanwhile, Sunderban Rokkha Jatiya Committee and Save the Sunderbans Foundation arranged two separate discussions in the city on Saturday marking the day.Speakers at the programme criticised the government for its move to set up Rampal power plant near the Sunderbans.At the Jatiya Sunderbans Conference in 2001, it was decided to observe February 14 as Sunderbans Day alongside Valentine’s Day. Though the green activists have been demanding to observe it nationally, it remained unheeded for the last 15 years.