Speakers at a seminar in Chittagong city yesterday urged the government to declare the Halda river, the country's lone natural breeding ground for carp fishes, an ecologically critical area to protect its uniqueness.

Integrated Development Fund and Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) jointly organised the seminar titled “Conservation and Development of Natural Breeding Ground for Carp Fishes in Halda River” at Theatre Institute, Chittagong, with Abdul Karim, PKSF managing director and former principal secretary to the prime minister, in the chair.

In his presentation, Dr Manzoorul Kibria, associate professor of the department of zoology of Chittagong University, said sluice gates in the Halda river should be made fish-friendly, and rubber dams should be withdrawn immediately to increase the flow of the river.

Effluents from the CDA Ananya Residential Area are released into the river, he said, adding that the area should be redesigned. 

Kibria also underscored the need for a ban on mechanised dredgers in the river and tobacco cultivation upstream, and for the formation of a public patrolling committee to protect the river from pollution.

An integrated management programme for the river should be introduced, he said, adding that a Halda River Conservation Commission should be formed to save the river.

Awami League lawmaker from Raozan upazila ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury said Halda is the lone natural breeding ground for carp fishes but only Tk 1.40 crore has been allocated to conserve the river. He urged the government to increase the allocation.

Prof Sekandar Khan, vice chancellor of East Delta University, said coordination among the department of environment, department of fisheries and local people is a must to save the river.

Raozan upazila Chairman Ehsanul Haider Chowdhury Babul said spawning in the Halda has gradually been decreasing. In the 1970s, spawning was reported as much as 5,000kg, which has decreased to just 1.2kg last year.