Unite on climate issues, at least
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia addresses the closing of 3rd International Environmental Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital yesterday. Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon and Bangladesh Environment Network jointly organised the conference. Photo: Courtesy
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday urged the government to create a national consensus on protecting the environment, and demanded enactment of relevant laws and stringent neutral implementation of those.
"Environment is not any party's unilateral agenda, rather it is linked to our national existence. So I am urging to form national unity at least on this issue. We are ready to provide all sorts of cooperation," she said while addressing the closing session of the 3rd International Environmental Conference in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
She declared a charter of 11-point pledges including banning of hill cutting, reclamation of the rivers Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakkhya by removal of illegal structures, and establishment of an effective circular river way around the capital, if her party is voted back to power.
She said her party gives so much importance to the mitigation of climate change that it created a post of a climate secretary in its new executive committee.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environment Network (Ben) jointly organised the conference. Yesterday's session was presided over by Bapa President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad.
Khaleda, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, accused India of unilaterally diverting water from international rivers, and identified the move as an important reason for drying up of rivers in Bangladesh.
"The people of Bangladesh are not ready to accept any project for diverting water from the country's rivers. They want removal of Farakka and Gojaldoba barrages. Natural flow of water must continue," she said and hoped that Bangladesh's incumbent government will reflect the aspirations of the people in its discussions with the government of India.
Referring to the recent Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the former premier said, "Our government could not shed proper light on Bangladesh's situation, and that is why Bangladesh did not get anything from the conference."
She said Bangladesh has to play a vital role in forcing developed countries into signing an accord that will make it mandatory to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent.
"As the most vulnerable country, we have to take initiatives for getting sufficient compensation and necessary technologies from developed countries. We have to organise other affected countries as well, as Bangladesh alone cannot do it," Khaleda added.
She stressed on working unitedly within the country rising above all differences, for which shunning conceit of power and narrow partisan interest is a must, she added.
Khaleda urged the government to start taking preparations for the next climate change conference that is scheduled to be held in Mexico this year.
She also pledged to include the climate change issue in development programmes with due importance, massive forestation across the country, punitive measures against encroachment upon rivers, making setting up of effluent treatment plants mandatory for every factory, banning use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers, and declaring important hoars-boars [marshlands] as sanctuary for bio-diversity.
Khaleda Zia also distributed prizes among the winners in different categories of a children's competition arranged on the occasion of the conference.
Bapa Vice-president Dr Nazrul Islam, and North South University Vice-chancellor Prof Hafiz GA Siddiqi also spoke, while Bapa General Secretary Dr MA Matin gave the vote of thanks.
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