The government has decided to ban the establishment of any new industrial ventures or projects within the 10-kilometre Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) around the Sundarbans.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will soon issue an official gazette notification.
The decision was taken at the 16th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Environment and Climate Change Committee, which was held today at the ministry’s conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan was in the chair.
At the meeting, previous decisions taken under section 3.4.4 of the 2017 National Environment Committee and the 2021 Executive Committee were revised to strengthen the environmental protection of the Sundarbans.
An independent team of experts will assess the environmental impact of existing industries within the 10 km ECA. Further decisions regarding these establishments will be made in accordance with this assessment and subject to court directives.
The committee also decided to amend the Climate Change Trust Rules to allow joint project proposals by government agencies, private organizations, and NGOs.
To check noise pollution, opinions from all ministries will be gathered to develop a future action plan and make proposals to increase the Ministry of Environment’s enforcement budget.
Additionally, a ministry press release said proposals will be submitted to introduce and increase risk allowances for Forest Department employees.
It was also decided that at least 30% of block usage in all public and private building construction should be ensured by 2025. A coordination meeting at the secretary level will be held in May.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
