The government has revealed plans to set up a safari park named after the country''s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the reserved forest area in Gazipur, the Bhawal National Park, in an effort to maintain the environment of the area''s unique coppice shal forest (shalbon), reports UNB.
State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud made an announcement to this effect at a press conference on the occasion of the ''World Environment Day'' at his office on Thursday noon.
He said the Bangabandhu Safari Park will be established over an area of 4,000 acres in Gazipur to sustain the shal forest, apart from creating a place for city dwellers to enjoy some leisure time just outside the capital.
Bhawal National Park covers an area of over 5000 hectares in Gazipur, 40 km north of the capital. The area was once noted for being home to various species of wildlife, most of which have now disappeared.
The area was also mostly covered by forest once, with the unique shal (shorea robusta) being the dominant species. However, over the last 50 years, illegal deforestation has meant the forest cover too has dwindled, leaving an area of only 600 sq km intact, according to a 2007 study by the Asiatic Society.
"Once we establish the park, we will be able to salvage the heritage of the Shalbon from the clutches of land grabbers," he said.
Reply to a query about the present condition of the Gazipur forest, Dr Hasan said the government has been informed that a quarter is trying to grab the forest to establish industries there at the expense of the forest.
"We will take stern action against the forest grabbers, no matter how strong they are," he vowed.
Referring to Dhaka as one of the most highly polluted cities in the world, he said the city did not get polluted in a day, rather it has happened over several decades.
The Minister said the government has taken a pilot project to change the habits of the city dwellers to ensure the environment of the cities.
"The pilot project will be started within two months in Dhaka and Chittagong in managing the housing wastes. Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporations will assist the project," he added.
About the present state of the country''s tannery industry, Dr Hasan said that the tannery industry is directly responsible for polluting the country''s rivers.
He said that the government has already declared the city''s surrounding rivers as ''Ecologically Critical Areas'' and has taken comprehensive measures to shift the tannery industry outside the capital to save the rivers.
Referring to air pollution in major cities, the State Minster said that his department has also undertaken plans to reduce air pollution of the cities through round-the-clock monitoring system.
"We have to consider all the people of the country, apart from Dhaka. Three air monitoring stations will be set up in the capital soon and similar stations will be installed at district-level gradually," he said.
Reply to another query about the country''s ship-breaking sector, Dr Hasan said the government does not want to close down the sector, but wants to minimize the amount of pollution it creates by implementing a comprehensive policy.
"We have already formulated a policy regarding the ship breaking industry. No ship breaking company can start work without the approval of the Environment Department," he said.
Referring to the government initiatives in adaptation of global climate change, Dr Hasan said that the government has already set up ''focal points'' at the 12 ministries to address the climate change issue.
"We have formulated the ''Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action plan'' and set up a ''Climate Change Unit'' under the ministry to look into this matter," he said.
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