Sea aquarium in Cox�s Bazar soon: PM
UNB
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government has a plan to set up a sea aquarium in Coxs Bazar as part of its various steps for protecting the countrys forests, environment and maintaining biodiversity, reports UNB.
She also urged all concerned, especially the city elite living in Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas to give special attention to Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara lakes as the size, width and depth of the lakes have shrunk sharply over the years due to the construction of residential buildings filling up the lakes.
I urge all concerned, especially the city elite, to give special attention to this regard, Hasina while addressing a function marking the inauguration of the World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2015 and National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2015 held at the auditorium of Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh.
She mentioned that her government has also a plan to excavate two canals near the Kuril flyover in the city to deal with any possible flood.
Citing that 3RsReduce, Reuse and Recycleworking strategy has been adopted in every industry to control environmental pollution, she hoped that the industry owners would be more sincere and take initiative in waste management as the government has made mandatory establishment of ETPs in all waste generating industries.
The Prime Minister also asked all entrepreneurs to conduct environmental audit and thus inform the Department of Environment on regular basis since it is considered as a very important measure in protecting t he environment.
She also renewed her call to the countrys each adult citizen to plant at least three saplings to protect the environment.
Its not possible for the government alone to accomplish a tough task like maintaining the balance of nature...its possible only with a joint initiative. So, I urge each adult citizen of the country, especially those living in urban areas, to plant at least three saplingstimber, fruit bearing and herbal ones, she said.
Referring to the recent graduation of Bangladesh to a lower middle-income country, Hasina reaffirmed her commitment to further graduate Bangladesh to a higher middle-income one within the next three years.
We dont want to remain at the lower ladder as we want to take Bangladesh to upper ladder, she added.
The Prime Minister said the proper use and protection of natural resources should have to be done considering the interest of all alongside the future generation. Whatever well nurture for this world with affection, itll hold the same potentials for us.
Mentioning that the forest areas have been increased to 17 percent from 9 percent after the Awami League government assumed office in 2009, Sheikh Hasina said her government is working to further raise the forest coverage to 25 percent.
She said the concerned Environment Preservation Act, rules and regulations would be made time befitting alongside increasing manifold the monitoring and enforcement activities of the Department of Environment while the number of preserved forest areas in the country has been raised to 38 over the last six years.
She said although the country received many pledges and commitments of assistance from the developed countries and organizations for tackling the climate change impacts, but most of them did not come up to fulfill their commitments except the European Union.
Sheikh Hasina said her government, not relying on others, has allocated around Tk 2,900 crore against the climate change trust fund to face the adverse impacts of climate change under which some 263 projects are being financed and implemented.
Chaired by Minister for Environment and Forests Anwar Hossain Monju, the function was addressed, among others, by Deputy Minister Abdullah Al Islam Jacob, acting secretary of the ministry Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, chief conservator of Forest Yunus Ali, director general of the Department of Environment Raisul Alam Mondol.
