Noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmed yesterday said concentration of political and commercial power is threatening the environment as well as social peace in the country.

The political parties are also marginalised in contributing to the process of good governance, which has been a setback for development, he said.

He was speaking at the concluding seminar on "Environment for Peace" organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) in association with Bangladesh Peace Council (BPC) at the city's WVA auditorium marking the World Environment Day yesterday.

Bapa, in association with some other NGos, organised the 5-day programme, including seminars and discussions, on various environmental issues.

"The concentration of power, even in the UN (United Nations) and the multinational companies, also violates the world norms hampering the peace and development process, " Prof Muzaffer, also the president of Bapa, said.

Referring to the recent tense at the Dhaka University, he said political links in the university has worsened the atmosphere of education. "If

student politics is to remain, the government has to rethink of its interface."

"We have to sacrifice some self interests for greater national gains," he urged.

Speaking on the occasion, Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Abdur Razzak MP expressed deep concerns over the fast exhausting of underground water in the city.

"Surface level of Dhaka might soon subside unless proper measures are taken to preserve underground water," the former Water Resources minister said. Filling up of the wetlands is decreasing the water absorbing capacity of the soil, he reasoned.

Presiding over the seminar, Razzak said the conflict over water and trade issues between India and Bangladesh has to be settled through a friendly discussion.

He suggested that Bapa point out several specific and critical proposals on environment issues and submit to all the political parties and social organisations for strengthening its movement.

Abdur Razzak, also the vice president of World Peace Council, observed that the use of atomic bombs and production of arms worldwide, especially in some developed countries, are threatening the world peace for their commercial and

politicalinterest.

Chairman of Center for Urban Studies, Professor Nazrul Islam suggested formation of a policy for the floating people, especially for those living in the urban slums, who are the key sources of environment pollution.

"If the politicians do not extend their helping hands to settle the problem, it would remain as it is and degrade the situation," he observed.

Bapa Vice President Kazi Md Sheesh criticised the US for its monopolistic attitude in signing the Kyoto Protocol, destroying the historical museum of Iraq through Iraq invasion and its involvement in global warming.

"Environment is not an issue of a single country, but of global, so we must think from global perspective and move towards that direction," Sheesh, also former chief engineer of Wasa, said.

BPC General Secretary Kamal Haider presented the keynote paper, while Bapa General Secretary Mohidul Hoque Khan, member Sultana Alam, Colonel Shawkat Ali MP and former MP Meher Afroz Chumki also addressed the seminar.