To safeguard the environment

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THE environmental awareness has been picking up in Bangladesh from the late eighties when a separate Ministry of the Environment with the Department of the Environment under it, came into being. Later, the environment court was set up and moves were made to introduce laws for protecting the country's environment. But it is regrettable to note that more than two decades after their creation, the Ministry and the Department have been functioning lackadaisically to say the least.
While the establishment of the two bodies created some hope, they are yet to deliver. The environmental laws exist on paper only. The loopholes allow the offenders to exploit the laws to their advantage. There in no initiative to enforce the laws effectively, either. Besides, the people lack the awareness which could motivate them to seek redress against environment-related problems. No wonder the environment ministry during its long existence played virtually no role at all.
A total shake-up is needed to activate all the three entities. The environment is threatened by degradation of agricultural land, felling of trees and clearing of vegetation, use of pesticides, indiscriminate discharge of effluents into rivers, air pollution, and hazardous disposal of urban wastes and hospital garbage.
Aggravation of all these problems calls for comprehensive and systematic remedial steps. The laws need to be updated. The loopholes also need to be removed to give teeth to the laws.
And without enforcement, the laws would be useless. Manpower and logistical support of the Department of the Environment must also increase.
Environmental courts should be set up in the districts.
Md Ibrahim
Azimpur, Dhaka