Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Sept 11, 2025 (BSS) – Additional Director General (ADG) of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr. Md. Sohrab Ali has said that the government has adopted the National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP) to control environmental pollution and conserve natural resources.

“However, awareness is essential to make this initiative successful.
 
Environmental protection and pollution prevention are not only the responsibility of the government, but every citizen must play an important role in this regard,” he said.

Dr. Md. Sohrab Ali said these today as the chief guest at the third views-exchange meeting on the formulation of the NEMAP, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room in Rangpur city with field-level government and private officials, along with other stakeholders.

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal presided over the event, which was jointly organised by the district administration and the Department of Environment.

The chief guest said environmental pollution is increasing day by day due to the lack of compliance with rules. He added that urbanization and industrialization are further contributing to pollution.

“To prevent environmental pollution, surveillance should be increased in industrial areas,” he said.

Regarding clinics and diagnostic centres, he stressed that special attention must be given to ensuring that services do not harm the environment. He urged all concerned to make health services more sustainable and safe by controlling environmental pollution.

In his concluding speech, the Deputy Commissioner said that the environmental pollution level is disproportionately high in Bangladesh compared to its size.

Referring to the harmful impacts of brick kilns, he said that they pose a serious threat to the environment as their black smoke reduces the productivity of agricultural land and pollutes both air and water.

“For this reason, the Rangpur district administration has continued to conduct regular campaigns to protect the environment,” he added.

The participants expressed their opinions on several issues, including establishing a modern laboratory in Rangpur for water pollution testing, freeing the Shyamasundari Canal from encroachment, learning from Japan’s experience as a world leader in waste management, preventing the setting up of industries in residential areas, stopping the construction of brick kilns on cultivable land, and reducing the use of plastic and polythene.

Divisional Director of the DoE Md. Nur Alam, Acting Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension for Rangpur region Md. Sirajul Islam, Divisional Forest Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman, and Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board Md. Rabiul Islam were present as special guests.