Environmental organization Dharitri Rakshaye Amara (Dhara) has raised the demand for creation of green guard to protect the environment including sanctuaries, rivers, Sundarbans. The organization demands that a special ‘green guard’ (green police) should be created within the police force. Green Guard will be in special places including heritage and sanctuaries, rivers, Sundarbans of the country. This green guard should not only be made up of the police force, but green soldiers should also be made from among the citizens. They will work together to protect the environment.
Speakers raised this demand at a press conference on ‘Hatimara artificial reservoir and Chunti wildlife sanctuary’ at National Press Club’s Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall on Friday (February 9).
Sanjida Rahman, coordinator of ‘Chunti Rakshaye Amara’, said at the press conference, Chunti wildlife sanctuary extends to Banshkhali, Lohagara and Satkania upazilas of Chittagong and Chakria of Cox’s Bazar. The natural balance of the area is under threat due to the negative effects of various projects including railway line cutting through the hills, illegal settlements in the forests, hill cutting, natural forests and wild animals being killed indiscriminately. There have even been cases of elephants being blocked and killed. Work is also going on there to create artificial reservoirs by damming large areas of forest.
He also said, I demand government initiatives to protect elections through public and science-based integrated planning. Along with this, I demand a fair analysis of the incidents of natural balance destruction that have already happened and quick punishment of the culprits.
Sharmin Murshid, co-convenor of Ghara, referring to the creation of artificial lake in Chunati Hatimara, said that influential people are behind the destruction of Chunati sanctuary. The forest department is afraid of government pressure. They are afraid of unscrupulous traders. But they are the forest protection authorities. On the other hand, the recklessness of traders is reckless. They occupy the forest. A section of common people cooperated with them.
Member Secretary Sharif Jamil said, we all have to work together to protect the environment. Deforestation must be stopped. We have to be strong locally.
In response to the question whether the government has taken strong steps to protect the Chunti sanctuary, Sharif Jamil said, if the government had taken sufficient steps, the situation of the Chunti sanctuary would never have happened.
The press conference chaired by Sharmin Murshid, member secretary, and Sharif Jamil, co-convener of CGHA, MS Siddiqui, member Abdul Karim Kim, Mir Mohammad Ali, assistant professor of Sher Bangla Agricultural University, etc. were also present in the press conference.
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