Environmental Performance Index

AN embarrassing news item was recently published in the media that Bangladesh is ranked the second worst country in curbing environmental pollution, according to an Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a bi-annual report prepared by the researchers of Yale and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF). During EPI preparation, several key factors are taken into consideration and they are: air quality, water and sanitation, heavy metals, biodiversity and habitat, forests, fisheries, climate and energy, air pollution, water resources, and agriculture. Actually, we are not careful about preservation of our environment and there is no assimilated environmental policy of the government nor has there been any meaningful effort to raise awareness of the people about environmental pollution. Public knowledge is lacking and more importantly, our attitude towards keeping the environment clean is somewhat negative. We are negligent of the environmental aspect of our country. We frequently throw garbage on the open roads, leave toxic materials in water, destroy forests for urbanization and build structures without taking care of the environmental aspects. Switzerland occupied the top spot of the rankings table. Our government should look into the matter and take proper steps to develop our environment.

Md. Zillur Rahaman

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.

Lalmohan Branch, Bhola.

[email protected]