Protect environment
Md. Asadullah Khan, Uttara, Dhaka
I am delighted to see that efforts by a group of people in the country imbued with the spirit of saving natural eco-systems like lakes, rivers wetlands and forests that still exist have drawn attention of expatriate Bangladeshis as well. I thank Shafiq Islam, an ex-student of BUET now living in California, USA and a host of others like him as expressed in his letter "Protect environment" published in The Daily Star on Jan19 last for their willingness to help and support the move that residents of Dhaka, especially Uttara have taken to save Uttara Lake from total death Sadly true, with discharge of domestic and industrial effluents and sediments thrown into the lake from all directions, the lake has turned into a narrow creek giving off foul odour. Shafiq Islam has rightly said in his letter that we cannot live and prosper by destroying the eco- system around us The administration must understand that unconstrained development like building concrete jungles in every available vacant space and over lakes, wetlands and water bodies to the utter disregard of basic amenities like sewer lines, pollution control device, waste water treatment facilities and parks for breathing and walking would bring environmental devastation for tomorrow. Our leaders must do the right thing now to create a thriving environment for those who will inherit this fragile country.In furthering our efforts to create a healthy environment in the country, may I request Shafiq Islam and others who have demonstrated their willingness to participate in the lake development activities to contact me over e-mail:asad _k@bangla.net Allow me at the same time to congratulate Elizabeth Dean Hermann, Professor of Landscape Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design for her letter on "Filling of wetlands" published on the same date. Professor Elizabeth, an authority on urban settlement on deltaic region who visited Bangladesh several times in the past has sounded alarm about the catastrophic situation that Bangladesh government's inability or rather unwillingness to protect the remaining wetland might lead to. When will the government, mired in confrontational politics, listen to in spite of the dire experiences that such thoughtless and often illegal filling has brought for the people?
|
|
