Take action against illegal brick kilns, forest grabbing
Environment minister asks DCs
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today sought cooperation from deputy commissioners in protecting the country's environment and forests.
He also asked the DCs to take legal action against illegal brick kilns, illegal use of forest wood as fuel, use of banned polythene shopping bags, cutting of illegal hill-dunes, sawmills, forest grabbing, and waterbody encroachment.
The minister was speaking at a press briefing after delivering his speech as chief guest at the first working session of the second day of the DC Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
He also sought the DCs' cooperation in controlling noise pollution, conducting afforestation activities, preventing planting of harmful trees, including eucalyptus, protecting forest land, preventing wildlife poaching, and saving migratory birds and protected forests.
To maintain the ecological and environmental balance of the Sundarbans, there has been a discussion about creating alternative employment for fishermen and taking initiatives to include social security programmes, he noted.
The minister said the DC of Cox's Bazar has been asked to take necessary steps to ensure that no new establishment is built on St Martin's Island.
The DCs have been instructed to include the agenda related to environmental pollution control in the monthly development meeting of the district, he added.