Green activists yesterday demanded immediate governmental actions in tackling the oil spill in the Sundarbans’ Sela River and implementing their six-point recommendations to protect the world’s largest mangrove forest from further danger.
Environmental group Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised a press conference titled “Oil Tanker Accident of Sela River: Destroyed Environment of Sundarbans, Present Situation and Responsibilities” at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium to present their suggestions after its field team visiting the Sundarbans submitted a report.
The recommendations are – declaring the accident affected area in Sundarbans “infested,” using government workforce to remove the oil, taking scientific methods for oil management, permanently blocking the water way in the Sela River, relocating the Rampal power station and Orion Group’s power station to avert accidents in the future and formulating rules and regulations for using the Sundarbans.
Speakers at the conference alleged that the government had not taken any scientific steps in managing the oil spread in the Sundarbans and the effects of that would remain on the forest’s biodiversity for more than 50 years. They also said the Forest Department had used local people to remove the spilled oil without considering their health hazards.
Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said: “The United Nations wanted to extend its support in tackling this issue but the government did not accept their proposal. Taking their support is not a dishonour for us. We cannot make a digital Bangladesh without foreign help.”