Environmentalists yesterday demanded the government's immediate and firm steps to stop India's National River Linking Project for the sake of Bangladesh's existence.

They were addressing a rally organised by Green Voice, an organisation of young environmentalists, marking its seventh anniversary and Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Bangladesh from May 5 to 6, before the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

The Indian Supreme Court, on February 27, gave the go ahead to the

project that aims to link 30 major rivers and divert the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers, which pass through Bangladesh.

Neighbouring countries and environmentalists opposed the project considering its environments impacts.

Poribesh Bachao Andolon Joint Secretary Zakir Hossain said, “We demand the government to boldly tell him (Pranab) that they (India) have no moral and legal right to prevent water from coming downstream.”

The proposed Teesta water-sharing deal would be of no use if India implements the project, he said.

The Indian government is going to implement the project and construct dams over the rivers by ignoring international laws, said Green Peace Dhaka University unitPresidentMdHirak Sardar.

“So the government should take firm initiatives to stop such initiatives for the country's existence," he added.

The environmentalists also emphasised on creating national and international opinion against the project.

Green Voice coordinator Alamgir Kabir was in the chair while its coordinator Humayun Kabir Sumon moderated the programme.