Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working with determination to protect wetlands and its biodiversity and rescue encroached water bodies.
He said this as the chief guest at the discussion organized to celebrate World Wetlands Day-2023 on the theme of "It's time for wetlands restoration" at CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital on Thursday.
“Everyone should be vocal along with the government so that no wetlands are destroyed or occupied by anyone anymore. We all need to work together to protect the wetlands that play an important role in the lives of the country's people, animals and plants,” he said.
The environment minister also said that considering the importance of wetland conservation, the government has included the issue in the constitution and has formulated various laws, rules and policies in this regard.
The prime minister has talked about zero tolerance policy on conservation of wetlands on several occasions. A 20-year master plan has been prepared for the development of haor region from 2012 to 2032.
Various projects are being implemented for the development of haor and water bodies. Thirteen areas of the country have been declared as ecologically critical. Besides, various areas rich in wetlands have been declared as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
Shahab Uddin said that the Ramsar Convention has been implemented on September 21, 1992 for the conservation of internationally important wetlands in Bangladesh. There are two Ramsar sites in Bangladesh, one is Sundarbans and the other is Tanguar Haor. Besides, Hakaluki Hawar, a collection of biodiversity including birds, is waiting to be declared as the third Ramsar site of Bangladesh. The government has a watchful eye to protect the Ramsar site and the world heritage site Sundarbans, a collection of wetlands. If everyone works together, all types of water bodies including Parambandhu canals, rivers, canals, haor-baor will be protected.
Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar, Secretary of the Ministry Farhina Ahmed and Director General of Department of Environment Dr Abdul Hamid spoke as the special guest at the discussion meeting presided over by Chief Conservator of Forest Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury. Mukit Majumdar Babu, chairman of Prakriti and Jibon Foundation, and Rakibul Amin, country representative of IUCN, spoke as speakers.
Centre for Natural Resource Studies Executive Director Dr M Mokhlesur Rahman and Conservator of Forests of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Circle Imran Ahmed presented the topics.
