There is no alternative to long-term government planning and effective action to tackle the environment and climate crisis, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has said. He was speaking on Saturday (6 June), World Environment Day, at the launch of the party's week-long programme of tree planting, tree distribution and awareness seminars.

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said: "As a political party, our scope to work on a very large scale is limited. But people listen to us and follow us. Out of that sense of responsibility, NCP Dhaka Metropolitan North has taken up this awareness programme."

He called on party leaders and activists at district and upazila level across the country to take up tree planting and other public awareness programmes for Environment Day. He said the country's forest cover is steadily shrinking, which is worrying. Forest cover has fallen to about 10 per cent, whereas it needs to be at least 25 per cent to maintain environmental balance.

Criticising the government, he said that although a pledge to plant 25 crore trees was made before the election, no visible step has yet been taken to carry it out. He hoped the government would take proper steps to fulfil the pledge.

Voicing concern about the capital's environment, the NCP spokesperson said air pollution, waste management and unplanned urbanisation are making Dhaka less liveable day by day. Because of the polluted environment, city dwellers face various physical and mental health risks.

Criticising the city corporation administrators, he said they should take effective steps to improve the environment during their current tenure instead of waiting for election pledges. Environmental conservation is an ongoing process that cannot wait for any election.

He added that environment and climate change cannot be confined to formal programmes or symbolic tree planting. It is a matter of long-term state planning, policy and implementation, and the government must play a more sincere and responsible role.

At the end of the event, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain formally declared open the week-long programme of tree planting, tree distribution, seminars and discussions, and called on everyone to come forward to raise public awareness of environmental conservation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.