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Judicial intervention needed to protect environment

By Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a workshop stressed yesterday the need for judicial awareness and Intervention to protect envlron-
Envlronment, Environmental Lain and Justice, organised by Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA) at a city hotel, were participated by Judges and donor representatives and conducted by leading environmental experts.
The two-day workshop on the inaugural day was divided into four sessions— three technical sessions and a working session.
Law Minister Abdul Matin Khasru inaugurating the workshop urged (he judges (o make (hemselves updated with the knowledge of environmental laws and Issues.
Implementation of law and administration of Justice demand knowledge or appreciation of issues."
"1 expect our Judiciary... would not lag behind In supporting environment activism being within the limits allowed by law."
State minister for forest and environment H.N. Ashcqur
Rahman said it was the “ethical responsibility" of all to respect the nature for the very existence of human being and this ethics should also guide the Judicial thoughts along with the actions of the government and others concerned.
Dr. Atlq Rahman, director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), said huge budget has been allocated for some unnecessary projects
all over the world. But little attention has been given to most important environmental issues concerning the human
“Bangladesh is the one of the worst victims of planet change which is threatening the ecosystem, food security, and our future."
He said government is the major player but not the only one. and stressed the need for change In environmental laws in line with global changes.
Dr. Alnun Nishat. country representative of International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), expressed concern over the rise of lead in air in the capital Dhaka.
"If the lead level started to rise Ln this ratio then the country would be full of stupid people since lead prevents the growth of intelligence."
He also expressed concern over the dwindling number of wetland in (he country.
Wetlands are very Important (or ecological balance but the area of wetlands have been shrinking due to growing habitat Increasing nearly about 10 per cent a year he said
Dr. Nishat idcniihed over population, poverty .ind natural disaster as the main factors for environmental degradation.
He discussed possibility of environmental court in divisional headquarters for specialised' handling of environmental cases.
Justice Sikder Makbul Haq of Bangladesh Supreme Court underscored the need to create public awareness against environmental pollution.
Speakers in the working session said the government should efficiently tackle the environmental issues as well as bringing rapid development In the country.
They said that tackling environmental Issues with higher growth rate under a free market economic policy’ was a great challenge for the country.
The development of the country is urgent but “we would have to be very conscious about its negative impact", they noted.
Mahfuz Anam, Editor of the Daily Star, chaired the session titled “Environment. Trade and Development." Prof. Mustafizur Rahman of Dhaka University was the key speaker at the session.
Prof. Rahman said the environment is being threatened following a liberal policy in our trade regime.
“Multinational companies are dumping anti-environmental products in the third world countries using the advantages of liberal trade policies. Eco-dumping is facing criticism in discussions regarding trade and environment in different International forums." Rahman said.
He said environmental degradation can be contained at a certain level if the people and government are conscious.
A global fund needs to be created because the impact of environmental pollution would also spread to regions that are not affected yet, he suggested and stressed’on building technological capacity in (he third world countries to face the new challenges.