Initiate environment revolution
Urge ecologists
Leading ecologists yesterday called for an environment revolution in the country cautioning that public health and sustainable development will be at stake soon otherwise.
"An environmental revolution is necessary for the sake of our future," said Dr Ainun Nishat, vice chancellor of Brac University at a roundtable.
"You will see big newspaper headlines in March-April that Wasa is failing to supply drinking water in various parts of Dhaka," said Nishat, former country representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The water in the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya would be so polluted by then that it could not be purified in the most modern treatment plant, he said.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the roundtable on "UN global compact principles on environment and anti-corruption" at its auditorium in the city.
Rules and regulations are there to protect ecology, but their enforcement has only started. "A consumers' resistance is necessary to fully enforce the laws," said Nishat.
He said people, who live nearby factories that pollute the wetlands or the environs, suffer from various diseases including bronchitis.
Nishat suggested that the government frame laws making obligatory for the businesses to follow corporate social responsibility (CSR).
He said the oil spill in the Bay will cause devastating effects in the Bay and the Sundarbans.
The whole planning of industries in Bangladesh is flawed, said Dr Moinul Islam Sharif, fellow of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies.
He added that if all industries were in zone, authorities could easily enforce laws for effluent treatment plants.
Majority of the industries do not maintain ecological standards, mainly because they are not aware of the issue and technologies, said Dr Sharif. "There is also no strong pressure group. Massive awareness has to be created for this."
Danish Ambassador in Dhaka, Svend Olling, said Denmark could be an example of how the country has introduced green technologies for industries and is contributing to cutting greenhouse gas emission.
Involving private sector in this regard is extremely important, he said, adding that they are the main contributors to the economy.
In another session on anti-corruption, Chief Information Commissioner Muhammad Zamir said low wage for the public officials and even the judges is one of the major obstacles in curbing corruption.
Right to Information (RTI) Act could greatly help establish transparency and accountability, but lack of logistics for the designated officers at the public offices is hindering effective application of RTI, he noted.
He said corruption is rampant all over Europe and India, but Bangladesh's corruption is highlighted too much. He urged the NGOs to "work more and talk less" to help curb corruption.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said holding the public officials accountable is equally important as providing better compensation.
Comptroller and Auditor General, Ahmed Ataul Hakeem, said, "We are involved in corruption so much so that we can't differ which is corruption and which is not."
It will be just like a social cancer unless corruption is curbed with strong hand, he said suggesting rewarding the honest people to check corruption.
Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam said corruption appears to be a normal activity in Bangladesh and corrupt and powerful people are well accepted, which is sad.
She urged all to use RTI Act to hold both public and private sectors accountable.
Mamunal H Khan of UNDP also spoke at the programme chaired by BEI President Farooq Sobhan.
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