Environment , Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that operations will be conducted soon against the resort and other establishments illegally established by occupying forest land in Gazipur. Map of illegal forest land encroachment will be prepared.
Irrespective of government institutions, private individuals and organizations encroaching on forest land, action will be immediate. There will be no compromise on this. He said, 26 thousand acres of forest land has been restored. Urgent measures will be taken in the districts around Dhaka.
The Environment Minister said these things in the president’s speech at the meeting held in the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Wednesday (April 3) regarding the protection of forest land and control of environmental pollution in Gazipur district.
The Environment Minister said that due to excessive pollution, even vegetables cannot grow in some areas of Gazipur, fish cannot survive. The challenges here are clear, not all problems will be solved at once. If accountability is ensured then no one can encroach on forest land or harm the environment in the future. Dumping stations will be designated for development of waste management. Gazipur will be developed as a model city through the overall development of the environment. The minister said to the officials that working with transparency and coordination will improve the environment.
Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Director General of Department of Environment Dr. Abdul Hamid, Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Division Sabirul Islam, Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Gazipur City Corporation Advisor and former mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Abul Fateh Mohammad Safiqul Islam, Secretary of Gazipur Development Authority, representatives of Metropolitan Police and District Police of Gazipur along with officials of Environment and Forest Department also spoke in the meeting among others.