A book of environmental policy guidelines named “Dhaka Announcement 2010”, for political parties and the next government was unveiled in Dhaka on Saturday. The Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) prepared and unveiled at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
Bapa general secretary said that they took the initiative because he economic prosperity of the little over two decades were achieved at the cost of the environment. This trend should stop for ensuring sustainable development, he said.
Dr Abdul Matin said that they want the poliical parties to incorporate the environmental issues and concerns and their solutions as put in the book in the manifestoes of the political parties for the next election.
Bapa and BEN leaders said they would send the book to all political parties and try to meet the candidates for the purpoe.
“We also want the political parties to conduct an orientation on environmental protection among their activists as the biggest environment plunderers have been found among the activists of ruling parties,” Dr. Matin oberved.
If political parties and candidates do not incorporate the issues in their manifestos, Bapa and its associate organisations would ask voters not to vote for them, said the leaders.
The book will be sent to government officials, educational institutions, clubs, religious institutions and diplomatic missions, they said.
The book has listed17 issues at the national level concerning population; energy; climate change; arsenic and air pollution; sustainable agriculture; urbanization; health; and industrial, household, medical and electronic waste.
Issues of groundwater, rivers, surface waterbodies and coastal and marine environment; rights of indigenous people; biodiversity; natural resources, forest and hills have also been incorporated in the book. – Staff Reporter
