Civic groups in Satkhira district formed a human chain on Saturday urging the local authorities to save the Betna River from the illegal occupants.
Satkhira Betna Bachao Andolon and Satkhira Nagorik Andolon Moncho jointly organised the human chain at 11 am at local Press Club, reports UNB.
In the human chain, leaders of the organisations said the Betna River has been going under the grip of occupants, and in the shoal people were building houses, shops and business establishments.
Once a high speed river Betna River has been turned into a canal now where no boat can run, no high tide and low tide occurs and people can simply walk through it, they said.
Local influential people are making business establishments there while local Water Development Board helping the illegal occupants, they alleged.
A total of 12 water bodies adjacent to Betna River are flowing through it, which can trigger severe water loggings if its drainage system not cleaned properly while all three sluice gates become inactive, they said.
They demanded for digging of Betna River immediately and free it from illegal occupants.