The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Environmentalists yesterday urged the caretaker government for taking immediate steps to save Lawachhara forest in Habiganj from the "destructive" activities of US-based oil company Chevron.

"The Lawachhara forest is a home to many rare species, including Ulluk (Holoock Gibbon). Unfortunately, foreigners are now destroying our forests, which will be disastrous for the country's environment," noted environmentalist Prof. Zillur Rahman Siddiqui said.

He was talking to media on the sidelines of a roundtable titled "Modhupur and Lawachhara: Stolen Forest Threatened Heritage".

Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) arranged the roundtable at the Drik Gallery here in the morning.

SEHD also arranged a photo exhibition titled "Threatened Heritage" at the Gallery. It will continue till June 27.

The function was addressed, among others, by Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan, Prof. Anu Mohammad and Dr Noazesh Ahmed and Dwijen Sarma.

Prof. Anu said such a 'greedy' oil company with the help of some dishonest government officials carried out blasts in the country's forest as part of its seismic survey.

"When environmentalists at home and abroad have issued statements against Chevron's activities, the Petrobangla chairman supports the seismic survey," he said.

The Lawachhara forest is popular globally, as it is the home to 167 species of plant, large number of species of animal and bird, and the tribal community Khasia.