Cabinet okays tough environment law
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
The cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair Monday gave a final approval to the proposed Environment Court Act, suggesting five years of imprisonment or Taka 0.5 million penalty or both as part of an intensified campaign against environmental pollution, report BSS and UNB.
"The cabinet has approved the Environment Act (amendment) 2010 to pave ways for tough punitive actions against polluters," Prime Minister's press secretary Abul kalam Azad told newsmen after the weekly cabinet meeting, which also approved in principle the draft Wildlife Act along with several other legislations.
Azad said the amendment to the Environment Court Act 2000 came, as the existing law appeared inadequate to prevent pollutions while the prevailing situation required mobile courts for instant prosecution of the wider range of offences at the scenes of violations.
Under the existing law, he said, the mobile courts appeared effective only in campaigns against polythene and emission of black smoke, "but not against other serious cases of environmental pollution."
"The new law was drafted and approved to protect the environment in a more effective way," Azad said.
He said under the proposed law, there will be an Environment Court in every district.
The country now only have two environment courts in Dhaka and Chittagong and an appeal environment court in the capital, though the Act of 2000 had suggested constitution of identical courts at all divisional headquarters.
Besides, the cabinet approved in principle the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Bill 2010, incorporating latest international conventions and laws for protecting the endangered species. Under the present law, punishment for hunters is inadequate, and not up to the mark compared to the international law and convention.
The press secretary said beyond approving the legislations, the cabinet also proposed signing of a memorandum of understanding with several nations to stop chemical and particularly oil pollution in the South Asian seas.
He said the cabinet also approved in principle the Bangladesh Rubber Policy 2010, while the prime minister asked the concerned officials to strictly enforce the rubber policy "stopping misuse of land in the name of rubber plantation."
"She told the meeting that many people lead luxurious life by building cottages after obtaining government land under lease for rubber plantation . . . this should be stopped," Azad quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying and added that the premier also ordered ban on rubber plantation in areas earmarked for tea plantation.
Azad said the cabinet also approved in principle Bangladesh Krirashebi Kalyan Foundation Bill and National Sports Council Act.
"The cabinet has approved the Environment Act (amendment) 2010 to pave ways for tough punitive actions against polluters," Prime Minister's press secretary Abul kalam Azad told newsmen after the weekly cabinet meeting, which also approved in principle the draft Wildlife Act along with several other legislations.
Azad said the amendment to the Environment Court Act 2000 came, as the existing law appeared inadequate to prevent pollutions while the prevailing situation required mobile courts for instant prosecution of the wider range of offences at the scenes of violations.
Under the existing law, he said, the mobile courts appeared effective only in campaigns against polythene and emission of black smoke, "but not against other serious cases of environmental pollution."
"The new law was drafted and approved to protect the environment in a more effective way," Azad said.
He said under the proposed law, there will be an Environment Court in every district.
The country now only have two environment courts in Dhaka and Chittagong and an appeal environment court in the capital, though the Act of 2000 had suggested constitution of identical courts at all divisional headquarters.
Besides, the cabinet approved in principle the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Bill 2010, incorporating latest international conventions and laws for protecting the endangered species. Under the present law, punishment for hunters is inadequate, and not up to the mark compared to the international law and convention.
The press secretary said beyond approving the legislations, the cabinet also proposed signing of a memorandum of understanding with several nations to stop chemical and particularly oil pollution in the South Asian seas.
He said the cabinet also approved in principle the Bangladesh Rubber Policy 2010, while the prime minister asked the concerned officials to strictly enforce the rubber policy "stopping misuse of land in the name of rubber plantation."
"She told the meeting that many people lead luxurious life by building cottages after obtaining government land under lease for rubber plantation . . . this should be stopped," Azad quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying and added that the premier also ordered ban on rubber plantation in areas earmarked for tea plantation.
Azad said the cabinet also approved in principle Bangladesh Krirashebi Kalyan Foundation Bill and National Sports Council Act.