The Issue of environmental protection no more remains an aspect of "luxurious talk" rather it has become the question of human survival on earth particularly in a poor country like Bangladesh.

This was observed by the speakers at a discussion yesterday on "Poverty and Environment" arranged on the occasion of the World Environment Day by the Bangladesh 2000 in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), reports BSS.

President of Bangladesh Society of Economists and Chairman of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad Dr Qazi Khollquzzaman Ahmed presented the key-note paper at the discussion held at the UNIC auditorium here.

Former Executive Director of ESCAP SAMS Klbria, former Minister R A Ghani, and Information Officer of UNIC Kazi All Reza spoke while, Engineer M Shahjahan

Khadem, Chairman of the Bangladesh 2000, presided.

In his paper. Dr.Ahmed Identified poverty, environmental degradation and population boom as three major problems in the context of Bangladesh. He said the rapidly expanding population in the poor countries like Bangladesh implied rapidly increasing demand for natural resources threatening the ecological balance and obstructing economic growth.

Dr Ahmed said, the three problems feed upon one another in a variety of complex ways and none of them could be addressed in isolation. Their solutions must be sought through an Integrated approach, he said.

Klbria said there was no doubt that over the years the advanced world caused severe damage to ecology. But now we have to find out the ways to get rid of the consequences of environmental degradation for our own survival side by side

keeping pressure on the first world countries, he said.

Environmental problems are the urgent issues of life. We need to protect environment for the sake of our economy, agriculture and public health, he said.

Ghani urged the authorities to take sustainable development Initiatives taking the issues of society, economy and environment in consideration.

He also urged the government to reconsider the implementation of FAP studies so that ecological process might not be obstructed.