Dhaka, June 14 (UNB) – Environment Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday urged the industrialists to set up Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) in their industries to protect the country’s environment as well as ensure its sustainable development.

“We don’t want such development that pollutes river waters, canals and water bodies…destroys river fish,” he told a discussion at the city’s FBCCI auditorium in the afternoon.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) organised the discussion on environment-related problems.

Chaired by FBCCI first vice-president Jasim Uddin, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Rokeya Sunjida Khanam, MP, and director general of Environment Directorate (DoE) Monowar Islam, professor of Buet Dr Aminul Islam and chairman of FBCCI environment affairs committee Shahidul Islam Helal.

Speaking as the chief guest, Hasan Mahmud said the government continues negotiations with the World Bank for soft loan to set up Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in industrial belts to deal with environment-related problems. “We hope we’ll get a positive response from the World Bank,” he said.

About rampant pollution by conventional brick kilns, the Environment Minister said if the owners of brick kilns adapt green technologies in baking bricks, half of energy consumption will be reduced and both the country’s environment as well as owners will be benefited.”

He said the enforcement of DoE will continue to protect the environment, but it must be consider so that nobody will be the victim of harassment in the name of enforcement drive.

“I’m not in favour of shutting down industries on charge of polluting the environment. If the industries close down, both owners and workers will suffer a lot,” Hasan said.