Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju claimed Sunday that his ministry failed to enforce the environmental laws against errant industrialists and polluters, fearing an 'allegation of sabotage' against him by the government.
"The law stipulates that all the old brick kilns should be banned. But if I would have closed those kilns, then I would have been labelled as saboteur for hampering the government's development projects," he said.
The minister made the comment while addressing as the chief guest a consultative meeting on the 'Seventh Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) Consultation on Sectoral Chapters; Chapter-4: Knowledge Economy and Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Chapter-8: Sustainable Development: Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management' at the conference room of the planning ministry.
Professor Shamsul Alam, member of General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission, made presentation.
The environment minister came up with the comments while answering to the planning minister's criticisms and instructions to take action against those industrialists who pollute the environment.
Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal asked acting environment secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed who made comments and suggestions after the presentation on the environment, climate change and disaster management chapter to take action against the law violators.
"You say that we have enough laws to preserve the environment without any enforcement. But at the same time, you are afraid of those environment polluters, saying that they are very powerful," said Mr Kamal.
"Give me the list of the lawbreakers and ensure compliance. I will allocate whatever funds you need to implement your projects," he added.
The environment minister then said if his ministry wants to enforce laws at Gulshan, Baridhara or Dhanmondi, they cannot apply them as rich people live there.
"We are not afraid of applying laws against anyone. But I will not take the responsibility of political impact after that," said Mr Monju.
The environment minister also advised the planning minister to stay cool and adopt a go-slow policy on environment issues.
The environment secretary said forests are being destroyed in many parts of the country affecting the biodiversity, influential industrialists don't use their effluent treatment plants (ETPs) saying that it involves huge costs. Environment will first save us and then other development issues like ICT or others will come, he added.
He demanded that the planning minister raise allocation for the environment ministry and increase manpower to strengthen the law enforcement agencies and other activities to tackle environmental disasters.
The planning minister said in the history of the world, the third revolution has been going on that is information and communication technology (ICT). Last year 3.2 billion people used Internet which was only 400 million one decade back, he added.
He said the way ICT sector has been helping in poverty reduction and job creation, no other sector is comparable with it.
"We will organise the ICT sector in next five years in such a way that we could compete in global arena. A major portion of employment will be generated in ICT sector," said Mr Kamal.
He stressed on educated and skilled manpower for ICT to ensure service, and involve private sector by offering tax incentives and policy support. He also said Bangladesh doesn't have enough allocation for research which is a disgrace for the country.
Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCC) president Mustafa Jabbar said the government must include a separate chapter titled 'Digital Bangladesh' to see at a glance the progress in the achievement of the targets and which ministries are doing what and to get an overall picture.
He demanded setting a deadline of Internet connectivity of 2.0 mbps bandwidth by the government to each household across the country and development of knowledge-based workers to get a knowledge-based economy.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) vice-chancellor Khaleda Ekram said it is true that Bangladesh has been visibly making progress in ICT sector. But ICT graduates are needed for its further advancement and sustainability.
She laid emphasis on quality education and qualified ICT trainers, theoretical knowledge and research and lab facilities to achieve the targets in the seventh five-year plan.
In his presentation, Shamsul Alam said during the Seventh Five-Year Plan the main investment priorities will be: Ensure rapid and satisfactory completion of all ongoing ICT projects, upgrade ICT infrastructure to provide space for projected growth of ICT services in adequate speed and reliability, provide funding for R&D, provide funding for ICT capacity building in public institutions, support the development of ICT skills and support ICT initiatives to expand services in the rural areas on PPP basis.
He said the following array of activities will be implemented under the 7th FYP: Pollution control, introduction of community-based pollution control enforcement mechanism to be operated under combined force of community, local institutions, news media and law enforcement agencies, promotion of "Green Labelling" for environmental-friendly products, establishment of a Central Treatment Plant under Public-Private Partnership programme.
The government will take measures to improve medical waste management by delivering specific disposal training and with strict enforcement of separate collection & disposal systems, design and implement plans on solid waste management in accordance with the 4R policy (reduce, reuse, recycle, reclaim). It will also expand network of integrated pest management with environmental awareness, education and behaviour change.
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