The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a discussion on Wednesday stressed the need for effective global and regional cooperation to prevent environmental disaster, as it is an international problem.

The natural disasters can't be prevented fully, but its effects could be minimised through concerted regional or global efforts, they said at the discussion organised by Bangladesh Human Rights and Environment Journalists Society at Jatiya Press Club marking the World Environment Day.

Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, former chairman of Press Council, addressed the function as the chief guest, while Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury spoke as the main discussant.

Former information secretary Syed Marghub Morshed and general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Omar Faruque were special guests at the discussion, chaired by journalist NA Karim Bidyut Chwodhury. Secretary of the society Golam Rabbani presented the keynote paper at the discussion.

While focussing on the reasons of environmental degradation, Justice Habibur Rahman said some powerful nations are frequently polluting the seawaters by conducting nuclear tests making the small nations vulnerable to be submerged. All kinds of nuclear tests in the seas must be stopped, he said.

Justice Rahman put emphasis on the need for appropriate diplomatic efforts to keep the flow of the country's rivers normal. This is urgently needed for Bangladesh's ecological balance, he said.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury said national and international initiatives could reduce man-made environmental disasters. Immediate steps should be taken for making the invaluable water resources in the Himalayas useable for all, he observed.

He hoped that all the heads of states and government would take a unanimous initiative during the next summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to be held in Colombo for resisting the environmental disaster in this region.

Syed Marghub Morshed underlined the need for using environmental friendly fuel to protect the Ozone layer and said the most powerful nation of the world, the United States of America, could do a lot in this regard.

Omar Faruque urged the environmentalists of the country to work sincerely for keeping the rivers and water bodies pollution free by creating awareness among the common people. He also called for taking stern actions against the river encroachers.