Chattogram Bureau

To mark World Environment Day 2026, a unique boat rally and human chain mobilization were staged on the Karnaphuli River on Saturday drawing a strong line for environmental conservation, river protection, and equitable green energy policies.

Organised under the global and national themes, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future” and “Just Energy Transition and Protected Nature: Building Tomorrow’s Livable World,” the massive fluvial demonstration was coordinated by Community Resource and Cultural Development (CRCD) with technical cooperation from the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNét).

Chanting the core slogan, “Clean Karnaphuli, Green Energy,” the boatborne rally targeted the unchecked plastic and polythene pollution plaguing the historic economic lifeline of Chattogram while urging the central government to prioritize an eco-friendly energy roadmap. Iqbal Bahar Saberi, Chief Executive of CRCD, moderated the open-air riverine seminar, which was structurally managed and coordinated by Agradoot Dasgupta, Director of Shonshoptok and Chattogram Divisional Coordinator of JETNét BD.

Addressing the gathering, environmental scientists and civic leaders slammed the structural injustices of global climate politics, pointing out that although Bangladesh accounts for less than 0.5% of global carbon emissions, it consistently ranks among the top ten nations worst hit by climate anomalies. Speakers argued that the country must counter this global atmospheric exploitation by aggressively building an indigenous green economy centered around solar, wind, and decentralized renewable power models to secure a climate-resilient future.

The panel of experts outlined a clear three-pronged case for accelerating the country's transition to green power grids. First, they focused on economic independence, noting that transitioning away from spending billions on importing volatile fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas to invest in domestic solar grids would preserve national capital and unlock green engineering jobs for youth. Second, the leaders addressed social justice, pointing out that decentralized solar mini-grids and home systems could immediately power the homes of over three million citizens currently cut off from the traditional grid.

From the floating demonstration, activists placed a formal charter of demands before the ministry, calling for immediate checks on escalating retail electricity tariffs and the rapid materialization of the national 10,000 megawatt solar power generation target.

The river defense program saw active participation, speeches, and formal solidarity statements from Jobayer Farique Liton of the Coastal Society Development Organization, Mohammad Ali Shikdar of Swapnil Bright Foundation, Liton Chowdhury and Agriculturist Rafiqul Islam of Shonshoptok, and Nazrul Islam Manna of PARK.