Environmental laws and regulations to be updated
Ziaul Hasan NDC, Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, said the laws and regulations would be updated to make Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA) more effective. New laws will also be formulated according to the needs of the age.
He said awareness activities would also be taken to make the people aware of the relevant rules and regulations. But action will be taken against those who knowingly disobey the rules and harm the environment.
Environment Secretary Ziaul Hasan made the remarks while addressing a meeting on ‘Member State Need Assessment Survey’ under the Montevideo Environmental Law Program at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday (January 28th).
Dr. Ashfaqul Islam Babul, Focal Points of Bangladesh’ Montevideo Environmental Law Program’ and Joint Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry said the program was adopted at the 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly from 2020 to 2029 to assist in the development and implementation of global environmental law.
Through this program, the United Nations Environment will help develop, implement and increase the government’s capacity in Bangladesh. In this case, necessary advice, technical assistance and will help increase public participation. As a member state, it has been requested to prioritize the nine strategic activities of the program.
In this regard, the views of various governmental and non-governmental organizations working on environmental law in the country will be sent to the United Nations Environment Program. The approved activities will be implemented later.
Mahmud Hasan, Additional Secretary (Administration), Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary (Environmental Pollution Control), Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Climate Change), Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Director of Environment Department (Livestock Management), Dr. Ashfaqul Islam Babul, Joint Secretary (Administration), and National Focal Point were present at the meeting.
Rakibul Amin, Country Representative, International Representative for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mukit Majumder Babu, Chairman, Nature and Life Foundation, Arif Faisal, Program Specialist, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Senior officials of the ministry, including Saeed Ahmed Kabir, Legal Adviser, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) were present.
