Public awareness is crucial to prevent environmental disasters
Protecting the environment requires not only laws but also public awareness. Everyone has to save the environment from his or her place. Only public awareness can prevent environmental disasters.
These were the words of the speakers at the seminar titled ‘Air Pollution: Our Actions and Steps’ at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Auditorium in the capital Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The speakers said that the government alone could not protect the environment. For this, people of all classes and professions have to come forward. Every step of individual-social-state life has to be environmentally friendly.
In her speech as the chief guest, Matia Chowdhury, Awami League presidium member, criticized the various activities of the post-75 military governments’, in destroying the environment.
She pointed out that excess establishment of brick kilns, excessive use of air conditioning, cutting down native trees, and planting harmful trees have caused tremendous damage to the environment.
Matia Chowdhury said, “Military governments have destroyed the environment with various excuses and wrong actions.”
Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, an Urban and environmental expert, said, ‘Bangladesh has better laws and regulations than many developed countries to prevent and protect environmental pollution. Even the country has environmental courts.
The constitution also speaks of environmental protection. Now the most urgent need is public awareness. We have to ensure the protection of the environment in everyone’s behavior.’
Professor Dr. Pran Gopal Dutt, the Former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, “Laws alone are not enough to protect the environment. If people are not made aware and motivated, the government alone cannot prevent environmental pollution.
Professor Dr. Khandaker Bazlul Haque, Awami League Advisory Council member and chairman of the sub-committee on forest and environment, presided over the seminar.
Delwar Hossain, Awami League Secretary for Forest and Environment, hosted the seminar. Dr. Aftab Ali Sheikh, professor of chemistry at Dhaka University, presented the keynote address at the seminar.
Iqbal Habib, Environmentalist & architect, Professor Dr. Hafiza Khatun & Professor Dr. Hafizur Rahman Curzon from Dhaka University, journalist Manjurul Islam, Advocate Manzil Morshed, Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, President of Environmental Journalists Forum, and journalist Zahiduzzaman, also spoke in the seminar.
