Ruling parties always harm environment: Abul Maksud
Dhaka: Noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud on Thursday alleged successive ruling parties and their personnel are mainly responsible for environmental pollution as whoever comes to power is involved in land grabbing and occupying illegal structures.
“Ruling party and its personnel are mainly responsible for environmental pollution. Filthy politics and politics of ravage are also accountable for that. Endless greed of the ruling class is depleting the environment. Rulers and their activists irrespective of parties are engaged in river-and-land grabbing and occupying illegal structures,” he said.
He came up with the remarks while addressing a roundtable discussion on Environment and Budget Management organized by Poribesh Bachao Andolon -POBA (Save the Environment Movement) at National Press Club.
Chaired by Abu Naser Khan, president of POBA, among others POBA executive general secretary Engr Abdus Sobhan, joint general secretary Syed Monwar Hossain, and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) central leader Razequzzaman Ratan also spoke on the occasion.
Abul Maksud said the annual budget is for development indeed but the government must ensure a healthy environment for its citizen besides development. Health and environment of the nation will be no more if we only concentrate on constructing physical infrastructure including roads and highways.
“Holistic approach is needed including by all ministries, state and people from all strata to save and build a sustainable environment” he added.
Monwar Hossain stressed initiating a comprehensive master plan in goods transportation including rail, roads, water and air reducing dependency on roads and highways in a bid to eliminate anarchy in the transport sector.
Observing that the government must ensure the safety of the environment first before initiating any of its projects or infrastructure, Abu Naser Khan underscored the need for initiating an Environment and Ecosystem Preservation master plan.
He also urged the government to increase the budgetary allocation for preserving the environment and to install an Environment, Planning and Monitoring Department in various development-related ministries.