UNB, Dhaka :
Experts at a discussion here on Sunday stressed the need for rigid control over the infrastructures being set up in the surrounding areas of the Sundarbans to protect it from destruction.
“My experience says people’s access to any forest simply destroys it. If more infrastructures are set up around the Sundarbans, it’ll be more accessible by people destroying the forest,” said Dr Hasan Mahmud, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests Ministry.
The Media Alliance for the Sundarbans, a platform of journalists, organised the discussion titled, ‘Protect the Sundarbans: Our Role’ at the conference room of The Daily Bhorer Kagoj in the capital.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan Mahmud said about 20-30 percent areas of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh is now accessible to human.
“But, a strong restriction needs to be slapped to stop unplanned tourism in the forest…setting up structures inside a forest means disturbing the forest.”
He stressed preparing a code of conduct over the Sundarbans so that people cannot indiscriminately enter the mangrove forest in the name of tourism and cannot destroy its natural resources.
Hasan Mahmud, also former Environment and Forests Minister, suggested launching a platform involving representatives from both Bangladesh and India to protect the Sundarbans, a forest located in both the countries.
About the environmental concern being posed to the Sundarbans by the proposed coal-fired Rampal power plant, he said if ultra modern technologies are used in the proposed power plant, it will not harm the forest.
Suggesting an integrated management system for the Sundarbans, country representative for IUCN Bangladesh Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad said a revolutionary change must be brought in the forest management in the Sundarbans to save it.
He emphasised conducting a baseline assessment survey on the forest to identity the resources, flora furan, wildlife, plant and aquatic animals the Sundarbans has.
Whip Mahbub Ara Begum Gini, MP, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Dr M Matin and Prof Ataur Rahman of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), among others, spoke at the discussion held with Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamol Dutta in the chair.
Experts at a discussion here on Sunday stressed the need for rigid control over the infrastructures being set up in the surrounding areas of the Sundarbans to protect it from destruction.
“My experience says people’s access to any forest simply destroys it. If more infrastructures are set up around the Sundarbans, it’ll be more accessible by people destroying the forest,” said Dr Hasan Mahmud, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests Ministry.
The Media Alliance for the Sundarbans, a platform of journalists, organised the discussion titled, ‘Protect the Sundarbans: Our Role’ at the conference room of The Daily Bhorer Kagoj in the capital.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan Mahmud said about 20-30 percent areas of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh is now accessible to human.
“But, a strong restriction needs to be slapped to stop unplanned tourism in the forest…setting up structures inside a forest means disturbing the forest.”
He stressed preparing a code of conduct over the Sundarbans so that people cannot indiscriminately enter the mangrove forest in the name of tourism and cannot destroy its natural resources.
Hasan Mahmud, also former Environment and Forests Minister, suggested launching a platform involving representatives from both Bangladesh and India to protect the Sundarbans, a forest located in both the countries.
About the environmental concern being posed to the Sundarbans by the proposed coal-fired Rampal power plant, he said if ultra modern technologies are used in the proposed power plant, it will not harm the forest.
Suggesting an integrated management system for the Sundarbans, country representative for IUCN Bangladesh Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad said a revolutionary change must be brought in the forest management in the Sundarbans to save it.
He emphasised conducting a baseline assessment survey on the forest to identity the resources, flora furan, wildlife, plant and aquatic animals the Sundarbans has.
Whip Mahbub Ara Begum Gini, MP, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Dr M Matin and Prof Ataur Rahman of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), among others, spoke at the discussion held with Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamol Dutta in the chair.
