Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin has ordered the director general of the Department of Environment (DoE) and others concerned to conduct special drives from Wednesday to reduce air pollution. Three executive magistrates of the DoE will conduct the drives against air-polluting companies and vehicles, he said at the Annual Development Program (ADP) meeting held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Tuesday. To increase the number and extent of drives, a request would be sent to Ministry of Public Administration and Public Security Division for appointing more executive magistrate and law enforcement personnel, he said. The minister also said inter-ministerial meetings should be held to coordinate with other relevant ministries to take and implement decisions. Read more: Around 60 percent brick kilns are operating illegally: Minister “I will participate in campaigns if necessary to create awareness about air and noise pollution,” he said. He also instructed the project directors concerned  to take effective measures to stop use of hydraulic horns and noise pollution.

The High Court on Tuesday wanted to know the steps taken to prevent air pollution in Dhaka and asked the authorities concerned including the Department of Environment to inform about it on February 5. The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order after hearing a petition seeking implementation of the court orders in this regard. Senior lawyer Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while Amatul Karim and Syed Ahmed Raza represented the Department of Environment and Dhaka South City Corporation, respectively. Read more: Around 60 percent brick kilns are operating illegally: Minister The HC issued the nine-point directive on January 13, 2020 after hearing a writ petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). Murshid filed a petition seeking implementation of the higher court’s nine-point directive on Monday. For the past several days, it has been reported that Dhaka has ranked the worst in the air quality index in the world, he said. In New Delhi, the government imposed an emergency situation when it experienced the worst air quality in the world but the authorities in Dhaka have no worries about it, he said. The nine-point directive of the High Court includes  • Ensuring the use of covers on trucks or other vehicles that transport sand or soil in the capital, Dhaka. • Contractors should cover the construction sites • Taking steps to sprinkle water on Dhaka roads • Ensuring complete road construction or excavation work or carpeting complying with laws, rules and terms and conditions of the agreement. • To seize those vehicles involved in emitting black smoke. • To fix the economic life of vehicles plying on roads as per the Road Transport Act 2018 and to impose ban on movement of unfit vehicles. • To shut down the illegal brick fields which are operating without licence and submit a report within two months. • Stop burning of tyres and recycling of vehicles’ batteries without approval from the DoE. • Taking steps to ensure that all the market owners or shopkeepers keep their garbage in bags and the city corporations were asked to remove those after the shops or markets are closed. Read more: Remove illegal brick kilns in 4 districts: HC The HRPB filed a writ petition attaching a report published in different newspapers on January 21, 2019 on air pollution in Dhaka.

Plastic is choking Bangladesh's drains, canals, and rivers. Around 1,700 tonnes of plastic waste is produced in the country every day and only half of it is recycled, according to the Department of Environment. In Dhaka city alone, plastic waste has gone up more than 3.5 times from 178 tonnes per day in 2005 to 646 tonnes per day in 2020. Of that 646 tonnes, only 37 per cent is recycled, and mostly by the informal sector, according to the World Bank.  It is almost impossible to imagine a day without any use of plastic. Clogged drains, bags fluttering in the wind, masses of plastic piled in dumps, and road corners have become an everyday reality in Bangladesh.

Walton is ahead of other private sector players in protecting the environment, speakers said this at a seminar in the capital Saturday.  The Department of Environment and Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited jointly organised the seminar to mark the "World Ozone Day," celebrated internationally on September 16 every year to raise awareness against ozone layer depletion and global warming. This year's theme for the international day was "Montreal Protocol – keeping us, our food, and vaccines cool." Read Walton Digital Campaign Season 14: Two more customers get Tk20 lakh rewards Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin attended the seminar as chief guest and Walton Hi-Tech Industries Chairman SM Nurul Alam Rezvi and Vice-Chairman SM Shamsul Alam as special guests.  Speakers at the event said the ozone layer is a blessing for the world and animals. It is the filter of the earth. But the use of harmful chemicals and gases has been depleting the layer. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987. Bangladesh is one of the signatories to the protocol. Read EPB assures Walton of support to boost electronics, electrical products exports Under the protocol, the country is working on controlling the use of about 100 ozone-depleting substances. Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin appreciated the various initiatives taken by Walton to protect the ozone layer. Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar said, "Walton is ahead of others in protecting the ozone layer and the environment." Read Walton brings Arc CPU liquid coolers Walton Hi-Tech Industries Chairman SM Nurul Alam Rezvi urged the government to make the star rating system mandatory for all locally produced as well as imported air conditioners to ensure an environment-friendly atmosphere through the use of energy-efficient products, according to a media statement.

Walton signed an agreement with the Department of Environment (DoE) Sunday at the event titled "HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan Stage II" project in the capital. DoE Director General Md Ashraf Uddin and Walton Hi-Tech Industries Managing Director Golam Murshed signed the deal. Read Walton launches 3 new desktop PC series Golam Murshed said, "We know that chlorofluorocarbon gas is harmful to the environment. Thanks to the DoE and the UNDP for taking the initiative to cut the use and emission of this gas. We will do our best to implement the HCFC phase-out project successfully." "Earlier, Walton implemented the world's first HFC phase-out project with the support of the DoE and the UNDP. Under this project, eco-friendly HC-600a (isobutene) refrigerant is being used instead of HFC-134a refrigerant in refrigerators and compressors. The successful implementation of the project has reduced the annual emissions of about 230 metric tonnes of HFC gas into the atmosphere," he added. Read Walton Plaza inks deal with Walcart To phase out the production of ozone-depleting substances in AC manufacturing, the DoE undertook the "HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-II" with support from the UNDP. Walton Hi-Tech Industries and five other enterprises took part in the two-year project to completely phase out the production of HCFC refrigerants. Read Walton TV gets good response in Romania Under the project, Walton will implement technology conversion of R-22 refrigerant to the environmentally friendly R-290 and R-32 refrigerants in its two production lines for ACs. The implementation of this new project will further reduce the emission of ozone-depleting potential substances by about 12.22 tonnes, according to a media statement. Read Walton Primo ZX4 Review with Price in Bangladesh

The Department of Environment (DoE) on Tuesday slapped a fine of Tk 2.10 crore  on six factories for harming the environment in the city. As part of the drive against the environment pollution, DoE Director (Monitoring and Enforcement) Mohammad Masud Hasan Patwary slapped the penalty following hearings of the charges. READ: Aedes Larvae: Bombay Sweets among 23 buildings fined The highest fine of Tk 1,90,27,200 crore was slapped  on Rafique Textile Dying and Printing Workshop, while Tk 17,63,200 on Maya Textile and Printing Industries, and Tk 1,43,770 on Pailuck Chemical Company. READ: Lockdown Day 3: Banks reopen, 587 arrested, Tk 12.7 lakh fined Besides, Mozammel Rubber was fined Tk 20,000, Yasin Furniture Tk 13,890 and Monir Furniture Tk 13,890, said a DoE release.

Here's some good news. Dhaka is no longer the world's most polluted city. That's Lahore now.

The Supreme Court's Appellate Division on Wednesday made the shutting down of all illegal brick kilns – running without a valid licence in Chattogram's Lohagara upazila – easier for the government.

Five illegal brick kilns were fined Tk 11 lakh on Tuesday in Kurigram’s Fulbari upazila.

The government has undertaken a project involving the general people to bring down noise pollution to a tolerable level, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said Thursday.