Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Tuesday said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated environmental protection activities, by issuing the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, to protect the nature and environment of newly independent war-torn Bangladesh.
"He (Bangabandhu) took initiatives to conserve forests, wildlife and biodiversity in the country by promulgating the Bangladesh Wildlife (Conservation) Act. As a result of the Father of the Nation's unprecedented initiative in planting trees across the country, tree planting has now become a social movement in Bangladesh," he said.
The environment minister said these while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and doa mahfil organised at the Department of Environment (DoE) by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, marking the National Mourning Day.
He said, "The father of the nation has brought freedom for us. Those who could not bear the freedom, they killed him with local and international conspiracies".
Daughter of the Father of the Nation Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working tirelessly to build a hunger- and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as per the Bangabandhu's dream, he said.
Under her visionary leadership, Shahab Uddin said, Bangladesh is being considered a development role model in the world.
"We all have to work tirelessly to ensure a sustainable environment suitable for people to live under his guidance. The departed soul of the father of the nation will find peace only if everyone can work together to build a happy and prosperous Sonar Bangla," he added.
Chaired by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, the discussion was attended, among others, by Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Environment) and Director of Bangladesh National Herbarium Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Chairman of Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hosain Chowdhury.
A documentary titled 'Bangalir Kalrat' produced by the Department of Films and Publications was screened on the occasion.
Earlier in the morning, Environment Minister Shahab Uddin placed a wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Road No. 32 in Dhanmondi.
He stood silently for a while and prayed for the eternal peace of the souls of all those killed on August 15, including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa Mujib.
The officials and employees of the ministry and concerned entities were present on the occasion.
