Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) jointly organized the country’s first environmental rally (পরিবেশ সমাবেশ) to protest the overall degradation of the environment of Bangladesh. The rally was held at Central Shaheed Minar on Friday, January 13, 2023 (from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). The main objective of organizing this rally was to involve people from all walks of life making them aware of the environmental issues and to present them the correct knowledge and information about the nature of the environment and related issues.
The rally was inaugurated by flying balloons and pigeons and hoisting the national flag and playing the national anthem. The opening announcement of the environmental meeting and the introductory speech was given by the vice-president of BAPA and the founder of BEN, Dr. Nazrul Islam. Demanding to know why people would have to suffer from an environmental disaster in the ‘Sonar Bangla’, Nazrul said that even though the government has taken various steps to protect the environment, it is not enough. In this regard, he said, all concerned including the government should take more effective steps. Now that we are an independent nation thanks to our great liberation war, the fight against environmental disaster should be our highest priority, Nazrul said.
Prof. Rehman Sobhan, who inaugurated the gathering, sent a written speech, which was read by Prof. MM Akash. In a written statement, he said, this movement to protect the environment is a long-standing one. In doing this movement, we had to stand against greedy, unscrupulous and powerful people and institutions. Many a times these unscrupulous gangs have used political figures. In the future, there will be a need to fight against powerful people including elected representatives.
Economist MM Akash said, “Environment is being destroyed due to three types of people in the country. One type of man is greedy; secondly, unscrupulous and thirdly, politically powerful persons. They are individually and collectively destroying the country’s environment and nature.” Akash urged the environmentalists to wage a greater political struggle against them.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said, “We often hear development first, then environment. But development that does not protect the environment will not be sustainable. For example, where we are performing today, there is no fog, but dust is spread around in such a way that it looks like fog. If this dusty air enters our body, it will cause disease.” She urged those who are working to protect the environment in different parts of the country to work in an organized manner.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Akhtaruzzaman, BAPA Vice-President Professor Noor Mohammad Talukdar, conference preparation committee convener Professor Khandaker Bazlul Haque, former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman, BAPA executive member Professor Khalequzzaman, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Honorary Fellow Mostafizur Rahman and BAPA general secretary Sharif Jamil also spoke during the grand inaugural.
Professor Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman, Global Coordinator of BEN, also spoke. Khaleq said, today we don’t have ‘Ruposhi Bangla’ (beautiful Bengal). Bangladesh is no longer abounding with flowing rivers, fruit bearing orchards or crop producing green fields. Khaleq echoed other speakers in saying we need to retrieve our “Golden Bengal”, as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation.
At the beginning of the rally, the convener of BAPA Mongla Branch, Noor Alam Sheikh, read a condolence proposal. Representatives of BAP regional branches, leaders of various environmental movements, victims of environmental damage from different parts of the country and representatives of various organizations including BAPA central leaders also spoke in the event. Various scientists, environmental experts and politicians, researchers, professionals, economists, teachers, journalists, intellectuals, sociologists, development workers, government officials, leaders of development-environment and social organizations, leaders of BAPA local chapters attended the rally. More than 5000 five thousand environment lovers including vulnerable and affected people and youths and students from different regions of the country participated in this environment rally.
A charter of demands was drafted in the form of a declaration as a follow-up of the rally. The declaration included national demands as well as local demands compiled at all of the divisional chapters of BAPA. BAPA-BEN believe that this declaration will add a new dimension to the environmental activism in Bangladesh.
