Re-evaluation of environmentally destructive development projects demanded

Civil society members have demanded a re-evaluation of projects that destroyed the environment undertaken during the previous Awami League (AL) government, along with the punishment of officials, political figures and consultants involved.

This demand was made at a citizens' rally on the 30th day of the ongoing sit-in programme by the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement platform to protect Panthakunja Park and Hatirjheel in Dhaka today (11 January).

At Panthakunja Park in Karwan Bazar, Jahangirnagar University's retired Economics Professor Anu Muhammad said, "One of the key tasks of the current government is to re-evaluate the projects undertaken during the previous AL government and to rectify the harmful aspects arising from them. The primary responsibility of the present government should be to reverse the environmentally destructive project-related decisions of the previous AL government."

Anu Muhammad further said, "We want the government to provide a depiction of the areas where nature and wildlife have been harmed due to various projects and decisions of the past AL government. All agreements must be re-evaluated, and those that are harmful should be cancelled. In a government that is not led by Hasina, protecting nature and wildlife should be central. Ensuring the protection of nature and wildlife would confirm that this is not Hasina's government."

He said, "It won't take long before flyovers and expressways become burdens for us. All of them have been built on loans. We are in a dire situation. In the midst of this, the destruction of Panthakunja Park and Hatirjheel for the elevated expressway project cannot continue. The natural environment of this area must be restored."

He added, "The current government claims that the elevated expressway project cannot be altered due to agreements made during the previous AL government's tenure, but the primary role of this government is to make changes. It must be assessed whether this government is listening to the people."

Professor Akhtar Mahmud of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University said, "One after another, anti-people projects are ruining liveability in Dhaka. These must be re-evaluated. The Dhaka Elevated Expressway project has no feasibility study. The connecting road at Karwan Bazar must be cancelled. If it could be added to the main plan later, why can't it be cancelled now? Those involved in such anti-people projects must be brought under punishment."

Zonayed Saki of the Ganosamhati Andolon said, "For a long time, in the guise of development, we have seen nature and wildlife being destroyed disastrously. All parks in Dhaka, large and small, are filled with encroachment and pollution. A new government has come through a mass uprising, and it is necessary to reconsider all the projects. If these are not corrected now, the goals of our martyrs will be disrupted."

Women's rights activist Shirin P Haque said, "Dhaka city cannot function with just Ramna Park. In the past 30 days of the movement, no solution has been reached. We hope that it won't take another 30 days. We demand a solution before that."

Amirul Rajib, chief coordinator of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, chaired the citizens' rally, while Mehdi Ahsan, general secretary of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Akram Khan, filmmaker, Ibul Sayed Rana, convener of the National Committee for the Protection of Life, Nature, Environment and Habitat, and Naeem Ul Hasan, coordinator of the Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement, among others, spoke at the event.