Former caretaker government adviser Professor Rehman Sobhan has attributed environmental degradation to unchecked profit motives and market dominance, urging the establishment of a dedicated commission to tackle these challenges, reports UNB.
“Environmental protection efforts are being hindered for the lack of proper enforcement of laws… I also called for urgent action to establish a commission dedicated to addressing environmental challenges,” he said while inaugurating a special conference celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka on Friday.
Rehman Sobhan underscored the need for collective action and suggested forming a specialised commission to address the issue effectively.
BAPA President Dr Nur Mohammad Talukdar chaired the inaugural session, while Professor Dr Nazrul Islam, BEN founder and BAPA Vice-President, presented the keynote paper.
Prof Rehman Sobhan highlighted how the rising cost of land, driven by market economics, is leading to the encroachment of rivers, wetlands, and forests for housing development.
While acknowledging some initiatives already undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, he called for urgent action to establish a commission dedicated to addressing environmental challenges.
Praising the involvement of citizens in environmental movements, Professor Sobhan noted that despite existing progressive laws, their implementation remains inadequate.
Pointing to the influence of unaccounted-for wealth as a contributing factor, he stressed the importance of unifying disparate environmental platforms to create collective pressure on the government.
Drawing attention to past development projects, he said that the Kaptai Hydropower Project, initially envisioned as a solution to the country’s energy crisis, failed to deliver on its promises. “Instead, it displaced a significant population and caused severe environmental damage. We must refrain from pursuing projects that harm the environment,” he asserted.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
