Dhaka urges UNEP to carry out emergency study

Environment and Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj urged the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to carry out an emergency study on extent of environmental degradation to take place in Bangladesh if India implements its proposed inter-river link project.

The minister made the call while addressing the plenary session of "The 8th Governing Council of Global Ministerial Environment Forum" in Jeju Island of South Korea yesterday, says an official handout.

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He said navigability is life-blood of Bangladesh as a lower riparian country. "So the flow of Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna rivers is important for the life and living of Bangladesh people".

But due to construction of Farakka barrage by India, the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans, recognised by UNESCO as one of the world's heritages, is facing ruination and desertification has already started in the northwestern region, he said.

If India's proposed project is implemented, he said, the flow of rivers through Bangladesh will slow down causing a great loss in environment and agriculture, fish, irrigation and water transport sectors. Besides, it will raise salinity in coastal areas, dry up water bodies and multiply arsenic problem. It amounts to threat to the existence of Bangladesh, he added.

Shajahan Siraj urged the UNEP to give special focus on environmental issue in water resources management. To conserve bio-diversity, the minister called for maintaining flow of rivers and involving all global partners in water resources management.

The three-day ministerial level meeting began in Jeju Island on Monday. Korean Environment Minister Dr Kwak Kyul-Ho and Executive Director of UNEP Dr Klaus Topfer addressed the inaugural function.