State minister slams DoE officials

State Minister for Environment and Forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury speaks at a seminar on e-Governance in the city yesterday. On his right is Khan M Ibrahim Hossain, director general of DoE, and on his left are Syed Tanveer Hussain, secretary of the environment ministry, and Mollah Waheeduzzaman, project director of BEMP. PHOTO: STAR

The Department of Environment has initiated a major e-governance programme in the environmental sector, but the database has not been updated since 2001.

"We have come to power in 2001; but why latest information regarding environment was not incorporated into the database," the state minister asked the officials at a seminar on e-Governance organised by the DoE and Bangladesh Environmental Management Project (BEMP).

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The BEMP is a five-year capacity building project funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Jafrul Islam warned that action would be taken against those who would not perform their duties properly.

"A section of officials are responsible for damaging environment," he added.

The state minister also asked the officials to update the database within 60 days and maintain transparency in their duties.

He also said the government is trying to take some realistic steps to improve the environment.

Syed Tanveer Hussain, secretary of the environment ministry, said the aim of e-governance should be to improve the government service.

Masood ur Rahman, information technology manager of BEMP, said most DoE staffs at the divisional offices have received training on computer literacy.

Presided over by DoE Director General Khan M Ibrahim Hossain, the seminar was also addressed by BEMP Projector Director Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Canadian Operation Manager of BEMP Gerry Post and Project Director of Sustainable Development Networking Programme Asaduzzaman.

The state minister also distributed certificates among the participants who received DoE information technology training programme.