Pabna, April 22, (V7N) - The mega project aimed at revitalizing the historic Ichamati River in Pabna has ground to a halt due to a complex web of legal disputes. On Wednesday afternoon, protesters organized a human chain and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district administration, demanding the immediate resumption of excavation work to save the dying river.

The program, held in front of the Literature and Culture Center at Government Edward College, was jointly organized by the 'Ichamati River Rescue Movement Pabna' and the 'Riverine People Pabna' district unit. Speakers at the event, including prominent academician Principal Mahatab Uddin Biswas and Assistant Professor SM Mahbub Alam, noted that although the massive renovation project began in 2024, all physical work stopped within just six months, leaving the river's future in uncertainty.

The ambitious project includes plans to excavate 110 kilometers of the river, construct 10 kilometers of walkways along both banks in the city, and build 56 ghats, 23 bridges, and advanced drainage systems. However, activists alleged that approximately 140 lawsuits filed in lower courts, combined with administrative negligence and bureaucratic complications, have created a stalemate. They pointed out that despite High Court directives to excavate the river according to the CS (Cadastral Survey) maps, the project remains invisible on the ground.

Movement leaders emphasized that the successful completion of the 110-kilometer excavation would trigger a revolution in agriculture, irrigation, and communication across Pabna Sadar, Bera, Santhia, Atgharia, and Ishwardi upazilas. They argued that revitalizing the Ichamati is essential to transforming Pabna into a modern, pollution-free, and eco-friendly city. Various cultural and social activists, including representatives from the Combined Cultural Alliance and student organizations, joined the call for action.

Following the human chain, the protesters marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and handed a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam. The document urged the Prime Minister to intervene personally to resolve the legal complexities, settle the pending lawsuits quickly, and ensure the full implementation of all planned infrastructure as per the 2023 Development Project Proforma (DPP).

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