There is no alternative to forest protection to save the environment
By Zeba Tarunnum
AKM Mozammel Haque, Liberation War Affairs Minister, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs (Bangladesh), said, there is no alternative to forest protection to save the environment. Everyone’s cooperation is needed for this. Those who have illegally occupied forestlands and built industries and business organizations must be evicted.
He said the eviction campaign should begin from those who have built big business organizations, factories, and high-rising buildings rather than those who have built small houses. However, he advised not to evict the poor living in huts on forestland without alternative arrangements.
He spoke these at a special meeting organized by the Gazipur district administration at Kaliakair Upazila Parishad auditorium ‘to free illegal occupation of forest land, to prevent environmental pollution and river occupation and pollution’ recently.
The minister further said the forest gazette was issued in 1987. There are various problems, including the boundary complications of private land with the land of the forest department.
The complications are like- at 1CS Khatiyan, is in the name of the forest department but SA record is in the name of a person individuals, again at 2RS Khatiyan, and at 3SA Khatiyan of half of the land is in the name of the forest department and the other half in the name of a person. Everyone’s cooperation is needed to solve these complications.
He said those who illegally occupied the river will also be evicted. The present government is not sparing anyone. Appropriate action is being taken against those who commit crimes and try to occupy. Besides, most of the factories don’t have any ETP plans.
Those who have, they put it off. Due to which the poisonous liquid waste of the factory is constantly polluting the water by falling into the rivers, canals, and beels (Sami-deep Water bodies besides homesteads). These issues need to be addressed. There are representatives of various industries here. You keep the ETP plan active in every factory. So that, the water of rivers, canals, and beels is not polluted.
SM Tariqul Islam, Deputy Commissioner, Gazipur District presided over the meeting organized by the Gazipur District Administration with the full cooperation of the Kaliakair Upazila Administration.
Among others, Abdur Razzak, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Yusuf, Divisional Forest Officer, RFM Munirul Islam, Conservator of Forests, Kajal Talukder, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Sajedul Islam, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kamal Uddin Sikder, Chairman, Kaliakair Upazila Parishad, Kazi Hafizul Amin, Executive Officer, Kaliakair Upazila Parishad, Nasir Uddin, BGMEA Vice-President, Selim Azad, Vice Chairman, Kaliakair Upazila Parishad, Ashraful Alam, Kaliakair Range Officer, Manjurul Islam, Kaliakair Chandra Forest Check Post Ranger spoke on the occasion.
Besides, officials of the Department of Environment, Gazipur District, and River Commission were also present on the occasion.
NOTE:
1CS Khatiyan : This khatiyan was prepared under Bengal Tenancy Act 1885. This is known as Cadastral Survey. This survey started from ramu of Cox’s Bazar upazila on 1888 and ends on 1940.
2RS Khatiyan : After 50 years of CS survey another survey was held on. This survey was known as Revisional Survey and the khatiyan made from this survey is known as RS Khatiyan. The purpose of this survey is to update the amount of land, owner’s name and possessor’s name. It is more authentic than the CS khatiyan.
3SA Khatiyan : This Khatiyan was prepared under State Acquisition and Tenancy Act 1950. Actually this is not a practical Survey or this is not based on field survey. This khatiyan was made on the information was given by the Zamindar or Landlord. SA khatiyan means State acquisition khatiyan or Settlement Attestation. It is also known as PS khatiyan or Pakistan Survey Khatiyan. This is not an authentic khatiyan.
