Hundreds of girl guides and boy scouts took part in a procession in Dhaka city on Wednesday morning. They carried banners and placards inscribed with messages on the need to stop degradation of the environment.
Traffic on the streets of the city was thin when the procession started from the Shishu Park at a quarter past seven in the morning. Recorded songs on environment produced by the Department of Environment were played from a decorated truck.
The Department of Forests organised sale of saplings from another mobile truck.
The procession was organised by the Department of Environment in observance of the World Environment Day. It was led by Abdullah al-Noman, State Minister for Environment and Forests. With him were officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Department of Environment and the Department of Forests in the forefront of the procession.
The day was observed with a call to create greater public awareness about the need to arrest environmental deterioration to keep the world habitable for future generation.
The Environment Day procession was meant for attracting people's attention. Originally the plan had been to organise a walkathon of people from all strata of society and age groups. But as the turn out was poor it became a proces-
sion of girl guides and boy scouts.
•The processionists paraded streets via the Institution of Engineers, and High Court crossing (second gate) before reaching the Shishu Academy premises.
A group of children received the processionists there.
The children's programme was concluded through a cultural function at the Shishu Academy auditorium.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests organised a seminar in observance of the day at the Osmany Memorial Hall at 10-30 am.
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was the chief guest and the State Minister for Environment and Forests Abdullah al-Noman the special guest at the seminar.
The Department of Environment in cooperation with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Metropolitan Magistracy organised a drive against operation of excessive smoke-emitting motor vehicles and the use of loud horns.
Boy scouts and girl guides were included in special squads formed for the purpose
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia planted a sapling at the Osmany Uddyan to mark the beginning of an afforestation drive launched by the Department of Forests.
In the afternoon a discussion meeting was held at the
Science Museum in observance of the day.
The Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FBJB) in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources organised a discussion meeting at Jatlya Press Club.
National newspapers brought out special supplements, articles and features while Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television put up special programmes on the World Environment Day.
Meanwhile in observance of World Environment Day' the United Nations Association of Bangladesh (UNAB) organized a symposium Wednesday afternoon at the United Nations Information Centre.
Winston Temple. Acting Resident Representative, UNDP was guest speaker.
Dr. AM Sharafuddin. Retired Secretary. Science and Technology Division. Government of Bangladesh presented a paper on Environmental problem.
The symposium was addressed by Mustafa Zaman Abbasi. Governor. Rotary International. Dlstrlct-328. senior journalist Sontosh Gupta and Syed Ahmed Hossatn. Secretary-General. United Nations Association of Bangladesh and Vice-President, of the World Federation of United Nations Association.
The UNAB meeting was presided over by Professor M. Innas Alt. President. UNAB.