Ministers highlighted public awareness, reduced polythene use and stronger institutional coordination as key priorities for tackling waste, water pollution and environmental degradation.
Bangladesh’s Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said coordinated action by all relevant ministries, agencies and local government institutions is essential to achieving sustainable solutions for pollution control, effective waste management and environmental protection.
He made the remarks while chairing a ministerial-level discussion on waste management and the prevention of water and other forms of pollution at the Local Government Division’s conference room at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam attended the meeting.
Mirza Fakhrul said environmental pollution had become one of the country’s major challenges, with urbanisation, unplanned waste management, the dumping of waste into rivers and water bodies and the use of single-use plastics and polythene placing increasing pressure on the environment.
He said addressing the problems required coordinated and planned measures rather than isolated initiatives.
The minister also said government action alone was not sufficient to protect the environment, stressing that raising public awareness and encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour were equally important.
He highlighted the need for effective measures to reduce the use of harmful polythene bags and increase the use of environmentally friendly alternatives.
Speaking as an honoured guest, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo outlined various initiatives and ongoing activities undertaken by his ministry to protect the environment.
He said greater coordination among government institutions should be accompanied by stronger efforts to raise public awareness about environmental protection.
The meeting included detailed discussions on water pollution, solid waste management, pollution control, conservation of rivers and regulation of environmentally harmful polythene use.
Also present were Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Mohang Shawkat Rashid Chowdhury and senior officials from the Local Government Division, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the two city corporations and other relevant departments and agencies.
Speakers at the meeting stressed the need to further strengthen inter-ministerial coordination to improve waste management, control water and environmental pollution and ensure a sustainable environment.
