The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The caretaker government plans to knock out two-stroke-engine vehicles from all district headquarters and metropolitan cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to hazardous global warming.

"Government is thinking about making cities and district towns clean by getting rid of two-stroke engine as it causes massive air pollution," Raja Devasish Roy, special assistant to chief adviser on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and Forest Affairs, told UNB.

He said the government would take steps to create awareness among the people against the use of two-stroke engines.

Earlier, two-stroke engines were banned from the capital city of Dhaka and port-city Chittagong.

Raja Devasish, who had a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue, said the envoy sought Bangladesh's support in tackling climate change-a red-hot issue that is going to be raised at the G8 summit to be held in Japan.

The Ambassador said Japan's government is willing to assist Bangladesh for adaptation and mitigation from the adverse impact of the changes in climate, which are already putting the country in perils-like droughts, floods and cyclones.

Devasish told the envoy that Bangladesh is not responsible for global warming, but it may face significant risks for this change.

He requested the Ambassador to highlight the issue at the G8 meet of the world's richest nations, who are being mostly blamed for the global warming.

"To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh government is taking initiatives through forestation, but it is not possible only by the government. It needs initiatives from the mass people and public awareness," he observed.