The World Environment Day was observed in the country as elsewhere In the world with a reiteration of the resolve to save the globe by protecting the environment.

Different government, nongovernment bodies and sociocultural organisations planned programmes including seminars, symposia, processions and tree plantation programmes in the capital and other parts of the country.

The slogan of the UN-sponsored day for this year was "Poverty and the Environment: Breaking the Vicious Circle".

The day marks the anniversary of the opening of the “UN Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972. The conference led lo'tneirt.uln.K,ul of the UN Environment (UNEP) Programme based In Nairobi.

In the capital, several hundred children, men, women and environment protection campaigners marched with banners and placards containing slogans, from the Shlshu Park to the Shlshu Academy as part of the day's programme.

Minister for Forests and Environment Abdullah Al-Noman led the procession also attended by State Minister Goyeswar Chahdra Roy and other ministry officials.

The procession was organised by the Directorate of Environment.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia attended a seminar as chief guest at the Osmanl Memorial Auditorium where she called upon the political parties to Include environment as an issue In their party agenda.

The United Nations Association of Bangladesh (UNAB) and the Dhaka Ahsania Mission. In cooperation with the UN Information Centre (UNIC), organised separate discussion meetings at the UNIC auditorium. The UNIC also organised a poster exhibition.

The Bangladesh Society for Conservation of the Environment and the Environment Journalists' Forum brought out separate processions in the city.