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Strong political will needed to tackle air pollution’

By Staff Correspondent
A two-day 'Global Workshop* of environmental journalists ended in Dhaka yesterday, stressing the need for immediately tackling air pollution threatening millions In the world with serious health hazards.
Participants in the workshop drafted a strategy to combat air pollution. They underlined that a strong political will is needed to implement it to clean the air, specially in the Third World cities like Dhaka.
The media could play a major role in building up pressure in this regard, the participants noted.
The workshop was inaugurated by Minister for Environment and Forests Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. It was organised by the Forum for Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB). Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) and Commonwealth Environmental Journalists Association (CEJA).
The workshop was attended by journalists, media strategists and 120 environmental experts from nearly 20 countries and organisations from across the world.
"Until environment is on the political agenda in countries like Bangladesh, I am afraid, little could be done to save the mother earth." said Holiday editor Enayetullah Khan, who attended the concluding session as the chief guest.
Haroon Habib, chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, said developing countries must have a strong political will to address environmental Issues since their people lack awareness.
"In many cases political activists or beneficiaries of ruling parties are Involved in breaking environmental laws, where the law enforcers obviously feel themselves orphans.
"And I may not be Incorrect In making this statement that
politicians are more Ignorant than many other quarters on questions of environment."
Amanullah Kabir. Executive Editor of the daily Independent, called the pollution of environment "a synonym of 'pollution of mind'." He said it should be considered as an "ethical issue.”
Shireen Kamal Sayeed. UNDP's assistant resident representative. said there must be policy guidelines and actions to bring down the level of air pollution. She identified lapses in the enforcement of existing regulations and laws for the protection of environment as a problem.
She also identified the lack of information as another problem to deal with environmental issues.
"We really still don't know the extent of damage caused by air pollution. Environment degradation is not an economic loss alone, it is a human loss which is irreparable."
FEJB chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury presided over the session which was organised in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists, the Commonwealth Environmental Journalists Association and with support from the UNDP. World Bank. Ministry of Environment and Forest and several other development agencies.
FEJB chief Quamrul Islam
Chowdhury said air pollution was slowly poisoning people all over the world.
Earlier, the workshop drafted a media strategy to help curb air pollution. They identified the reasons for the problem and possible solutions.
Secretary General of International Federation of Environmental Journalists Manuel Satorre, CEJA Secretary General Nina Ratulele. Ray Cheung from the USA. Addltya Man-sresthan of Nepal. Zaighm Khan of Pakistan and FEJB General Secretary Mofizur Rahman also spoke at the closing ceremony.
Enayetullah Khan said many objectives often could not be reached due to lapses in policy decisions.
He said the government recently increased taxes on importing two-stroke engines for auto-rickshaws, the main culprit of air pollution in Dhaka, instead of banning their imports.
Haroon Habib said Dhaka, which is known as a city of rickshaws, is being branded a city of air pollution, too.
"The simple reason is that the motor vehicles which ply In the city are not properly maintained. Traffic regulations are not being enforced. There Is no punishment for those unscrupulous elements who contaminate fuel.