No credit facilities for polluting units

In an initiative to protect environment and combat climate change, the government has decided to restrict credit facilities for polluting industries.
"No more credit facilities for the industries which will pollute environment," Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman yesterday said while he was speaking at a seminar on 'Climate change management' for the central bank officials at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy in the city.
Dr Atiur said action would be taken against those banks which would provide credit facilities to the industries responsible for environment pollution.
He said Bangladesh Bank has created a fund of Tk 200 crore to address the environmental issues and climate change. Every industry might have Tk 1 crore loan for setting up Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) from the fund, he said.
The central bank is ready to increase the size of the fund and give up to Tk 5 crore if the industrialists agree, he said urging the schedule banks to come up with more credit facilities for environment-friendly industries.
Noted economist and members of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad also spoke at the seminar with Executive Director of the BBTA Debaki Kumar Saha in the chair.
Dr Atiur laid importance on dredging of rivers and canals to ensure water security of the people and boost country's agro- based economy.
He urged the private banks to help the local dredging companies with necessary financial support for river dredging.
He said the central bank has taken an initiative to create fund to help farmers produce organic fertiliser. Any people to take any such project with at least four cattle heads might get credit from the fund, he said.
Dr Atiur said a coordinated policy should be put in place considering the affects of climate change and country's economic development. He asked the bankers to make their best efforts to improve financial system to the challenges of climate change.
Dr Kholiquzzaman said climate change has threatened our food security as well as energy and water safety of millions of people along with their lives and livelihoods.