Several non-government organisations on Saturday protested against felling of trees and filling up low land by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha in the name of Purbachal New Town Project.
At a briefing at Dhaka Reporters Unity, Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, Transparency International Bangladesh, Save the Environment Movement, Nijera Kori, Institute of Architects Bangladesh and Association for Land Reform and Development urged the government to take immediate steps against Rajuk for destroying natural resources.
At the briefing, architect Iqbal Habib said
that receiving complaints from the locals a team of experts from the organisations visited the project area on July 20 and witnessed Rajuk contractors felling old trees,
filling up water bodies, in breach of the Rajuk’s commitment.
Dredgers and bulldozers were seen levelling the forest and low lands in the name of the housing project, said Iqbal.
Iqbal urged the government to protect greeneries and water bodies from destruction under Purbachal project.
He demanded investigation into the matter by a neutral committee to implement the High Court order in this regard.
Green activist demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the felling of trees and filling up water bodies.
He said that the government should amend the project considering the present scenario.
Iqbal added that the housing project lacked clearance certificate of the Department of Environment.
Architect Mobassher Hossain slammed Rajuk chairman and the city development authority for destroying a village and its natural resources.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan secretary general Md Abdul Matin, Save the Environment chairman Abu Naser Khan, TIB director Rezwan-ul-Alam, ALRD executive director Shamsul Huda, Kaliganj upazila chairman Md Kamal Uddin and local representatives were present at the briefing.
-With New Age input
