Development should not damage the environment, experts said yesterday, urging the government to devise deterrents and run awareness campaigns to stop pollution.

Some damages to environment are irreparable, they said at a symposium organised by Bangladesh National Committee of IUCN Members at the capital's Jatiya Press Club to mark the World Environment Day. IUCN, International Union for Conservation

of Nature, is the global authority on protecting the environment.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), said tannery waste had destroyed the Buriganga river. Now the Dhaleshwari river is facing a similar threat after the shifting of tanneries to Savar.

“When Dhaka will be destroyed and abandoned, only then people will get their conscience back," Rizwana said.

Speaking as the chief guest.

Environment and Forests Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said, "We cannot shut down the unplanned industries overnight, considering the country's development. We can take measures to stop damages from those."

Brick kilns will be brought under strict laws to prevent air pollution, he said, adding that tree plantation in and outside homes would get priority to increase the country's green coverage. Senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed stressed the need for continuation of the projects taken for environmental development. The problems facing the environment are a matter of concern for all, not just for the government or a political party alone, he said.

In another programme titled "Rohinya settlement in Bangladesh: environment crises in Cox's Bazar", environmentalists expressed concern over the deforestation in Cox's Bazar following the huge influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar.

The government must make it a priority to take immediate measures to contain mass felling of trees there, they said at the event jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Green Voice at Mukti Bhaban in Purana Paltan in the capital.

Efforts should be made through diplomatic channels to send them back to Myanmar, said Syed Abul Maksud, president of Bapa, "to protect our environment or else the country will have to to pay a greater price."

Fazlul Kader Chowdhury, president of Bapa’s Cox's Bazar branch said for the settle-

ment of Rohingyas, Tk 500 crore worth of forests were destroyed, increasing salinity in the area. The deforestation poses threat to the biodiversity of the area, he added.

Everyone has to be aware of how to manage plastic waste properly so that the environment stays free from plastic pollution, said Prof Emeritus Ainun Nishat of Brae University's Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research at a seperate symposium yesterday.

"It is not the fault of plastic, but of its users," he said at the programme while explaining that if plastics were not littered everywhere irresponsibly, it would be possible to maintain a healthy environment.

United Nations Association of Bangladesh organised the programme titled "Beat Plastic Pollution" at Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs in Dhaka.

Speaking as the key speaker, the professor said each Bangladeshi citizen uses 9kg of plastic bags a year whereas Singaporeans use 107kg per head. But, the Singaporeans do not mismanage their plastic bags and do not throw plastic bags out in the open.