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Published on June 5, 2014
The Prime Minister also urged the world people to be more vocal about realization of the pledges of the developed world. "Bangladesh has no role in global warming and climate change. But we have become the worst victims of its negative impact," she said.
Sheikh Hasina also suggested the owners of tannery industries in Hazaribagh in the capital shifting their factories at Savar Leather Estate within stipulated time.
The Prime Minister said Hazaribagh Tannery Industry is being shifted to Savar very soon, and setting up of a central Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) has already begun there.
She mentioned that ETP has been set up in 812 industries."We have planned to introduce 100 percent ETP in all mills and factories by 2018 and monitor ETP activities through online," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the World Environment Day, the week-long Environment Fair and three-month long National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here this morning.
Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju presided over the function organized by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Environment and Forests Secretary Md Shafiqur Rahman Patwary delivered the welcome address.
Spelling out her government's steps for protecting environment, the Prime Minister said the government has framed new laws including environment court act. "We have made time-befitting the old laws and ensured their enforcement," she said.
The Prime Minister said her government has raised the number of manpower of the Department of Environment (DoE) to 720 from 267 by setting up its offices in 21 districts in 2009. "We have been working on establishing the DoE office in all 64 districts of the country," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has framed the climate change strategies and the work plan 2009 and passed the climate change trust law 2010. Under the law, she said, a statutory body named Bangladesh Climate Change Trust was formed in 2013.
Not depending on the foreign money, she said, the government has allocated Taka 2,700 crore for the trust from its own fund."As many as 270 projects are being executed from the fund," she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) was constituted in 2010 with the fund of the development partners for implementation of Bangladesh Climate Change Strategies and Work Plan."The fund has so far received $189.50 million from seven donor agencies," she added.
Sheikh Hasina said in the 15th World Climate Summit, she had called for constitution of Green Climate Fund for providing overall assistance in tackling climate change.
"It is very encouraging that the trust has been formed and I hope that this organization would make necessary financing and undertake programmes," she said.
The Prime Minister said her government is moving forward for protection and development of environment, ecology and forests by
overcoming all hurdles. "We have taken steps for stopping unplanned urbanization and industrialization," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken initiatives for protecting hills, rivers, ponds, waterbodies, aquatic animals and
plants and stepped up enforcement of laws to check production,import, export, stock and transportation of risky wastes.
The Prime Minister said the people get the elements-food,clothes, house, medicare and pure environment--that keep alive them from the trees. "So I think that this year's theme of the National Tree Plantation Campaign --More Trees, More Prosperity -- is very time-befitting," she said.
Sheikh Hasina urged every citizen of the country to plant a wood tree, a fruit tree and a medicinal tree by collecting those from the tree fair that has been arranged at divisional, district and upazila levels.
Putting emphasis on taking care of the trees, a sapling could not be turned into a complete tree only after plantation.For this, she said, proper take care is needed.
"So let us come to give importance to the take care of trees side by side with tree plantation and then the tree plantation drive would be truly successful," she said.
Underscoring the need for keeping water reservoir in all establishments, the Prime Minister said that none will be allowed to build any houses, factories and other establishments without water reservoir.
About the government\'s order not to fill up waterbodies, she mentioned that the land owners are unhappy with her as the real estate businessmen could not develop lands and construct houses by filling up the waterbodies.
Earlier, the Prime Minister handed over the National Environment Award 2014, Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2014 and Prime Minister's National Award 2013.
Professor Dr Md Khabir Uddin of Jahangirnagar University,popular television personality Hanif Sangket and Rural Services Foundation received the National Environment Award 2014 for their outstanding contribution to environment conservation.
Dr Md Mostafa Feroz of Jahangirnagar University, Md Bandey Ali Khan of Kalapara in Patuakhali, Md Jewel Rana of Naldanga in Natore and Notredame Nature Study Club got the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2014.
Thirty organizations and individuals in 10 categories received PM's National Award 2013. Besides, Md Fazlur Rahman of Dhamairhat upazila in Naogaon district got the award as the best beneficiary in social afforestation in 2013.
Later, the Prime Minister planted a sapling on the BICC premises.
-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
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