DHAKA: An environment polluter will have to serve five years in jail or/and pay a fine of Tk 5 lakh under provision of a new law endorsed Monday by the Cabinet for enactment.  

The approval to the Environment Act 2010 was given at the cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair—at a time when environmental pollution and climatic calamities are a pressing concern at home and abroad.

“As provided for in the proposed law, environment court will be set up in every district,” Prime Minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad later told the press about the comprehensive law in the making.

Environment and forest secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder told banglanews24.com that the new environment law would help now take legal action against any anti-environment crime.  

The Cabinet also approved the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Act 2010 in principle and the Bangabandhu Krirasebi Welfare Foundation and the National Sports Council (Amendment) Act 2010.

After the seal of approval was given the draft of Bangladesh Rubber Policy 2010, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to strictly implement the policy so that “none can misuse the land or plant tea by taking lease in the name of rubber plantation”.

The council of ministers also gave its nod to the proposal for signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation on the Response to Oil and Chemical Pollution in the South Asian Seas Region.

BDST: 2018HRS, JULY 19, 2010