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Opinion for Balanced Development to Protect Sundarban

5th June is World Environment Day. Every year the day is observed with a theme. In 2015 the theme is ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.’ No resource in the world is unlimited. So we need to think about our future generations before we consume any resource in an unplanned way. Sundarban is important not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole world. In one hand, Sundarban is our pride and it is balancing the ecosystem of our country on the other. But through misuse of its resources and through various development projects Sundarban is being gradually destroyed. Setting up Rampal Power Plant in Sundarban will be suicidal. Plants, animals, ecosystem everything will face serious damage for it. So the decision should be altered. To observe forthcoming World Environment Day 2015 Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust organized a discussion meeting titled ‘Sundarban: Development and Environment’ at Koiborto Conference Room of WBB Trust on 26th May 2015.

Gaous Pearee Mukti, Director (admin), Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust said that our resource is limited. So we need to be more conscious about usage. We must remember that we cannot compromise our environment for economic development only. In our country many people use electricity unnecessarily. The planet belongs to all. We must use resources in a manner that our future generation can live in a beautiful world. Sundarban belongs to all so we need to work together to protect it.

Keynote speaker of the discussion meeting Dr. Abdul Matin, General Secretary, Bangladesh Environment Movement said that we are not capable of building a forest like Sundarban. It has its own uniqueness. Butterflies and bees of special species help in pollination of Sundari and other plants. These plants work for the medication of the animals. If the power plant causes harm to the butterflies and bees the whole procedure will be affected. Lands of the Sundarban are being illegally encroached. It is a warning that initiatives must be taken as soon as possible to protect Sundarban. As the local people will be the direct victim so should involve them with our movements and it will be helpful to achieve success. And our government should be more considerate about Sundarban.

Maruf Hossain, National Advocacy Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, was the moderator of the program. Syeda Anonna Rahman, National Advocacy Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; Naznin Kabir, Senior Project Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; Ziaur Rahman Litu, Project Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; Monjur Hassan Dilu, secretary, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) and other staffs of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust were present and participated in the discussion meeting.