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World Environment Day will be observed in
the country as elsewhere around the globe today (Sunday) amid
heightened campaigns by the greens for saving the imperiled planet.
The theme of the day for this year is 'Green Cities: Plan for the
Planet'. It implies a call for greening the urban areas to offset
the adverse effects of carbon emissions and enable people to breathe
fresh air.
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Environment and Forest Ministry has taken up elaborate programmes to
observe the day.
Newspapers will publish special supplements and BTV and Radio
Bangladesh air special programmes for creating environment
consciousness among the public.
A human chain jointly organised by the Institute for Environment and
Development (IID), Jono Uddog and Green Force will be staged at
Shahbag at 10 AM today.
President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
and Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina issued messages on the occasion.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent in a message highlighting the
importance of the day.
Praising the theme of the day Dr Iajuddin Ahmed said that trees have
to be planted to get back the environment of the cities in a state
suitable for living and green should be considered in every plan.
" Cities and towns are expanding rapidly in the least developed
countries like ours," he said and hoped that this day would inspire
all to build cities and towns covered with greenery.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia hoped that multifarious initiatives
against environment pollution would be consolidated and strengthened
through observing the World Environment Day.
" Though as a nation we are not responsible much for destroying the
environment, we are affected by its perils, consequences, risks and
invasion," she said.
"So we, too, have a great responsibility alongside international
effort and drive for saving the environment."
Sheikh Hasina said, "We should be more conscious to save the
environment and build a social movement by making all people aware
about it."
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged individuals, businesses and
local and national governments to take up the urban environmental
challenge.
Source: The New Nation
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