The government is set to ramp up joint mobile court drives to combat illegal hill cutting, air pollution, and the use of banned polythene, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Speaking at a discussion titled “Preventing the Use of Banned Polythene in Chattogram and Reducing Plastic Pollution,” held at the Secretariat on Sunday, Rizwana highlighted key measures to address environmental violations. The discussion brought together officials, environmental experts, and business leaders to strategize solutions to ongoing ecological challenges.
“The district administrations, city corporations, and the Department of Environment (DoE) will collaborate to intensify mobile court operations,” the adviser said. She emphasized the need for immediate action to safeguard the environment, including the installation of warning signboards on hills, increased patrols, and official directives to hill owners to prevent illegal hill cutting.
“Strict legal actions will be taken against those who violate environmental laws,” she warned, reiterating the government's zero-tolerance stance on such offenses.
The advisor also announced plans to create a list of polythene manufacturers to facilitate legal action. She stressed the importance of mandatory barcodes on packaging and urged for mobile court operations in markets and supermarkets. Intercepting trucks carrying illegal polythene is critical to curbing its distribution, she added.
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Local Government Division Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam, and officials from the Chattogram Development Authority also addressed the meeting. The speakers underscored the need for stricter law enforcement and increased public awareness to combat environmental degradation.
Representatives from government and non-government organizations, environmental groups, and the media participated virtually in the discussion. Many echoed the demand for sustainable practices and stricter oversight to eliminate the use of banned polythene and reduce plastic pollution in Chattogram.