Ruling party 'land grab' policy leads to environmental disaster

Criticising the government for its anti-environment policies, they said it has reduced the budgetary allocation for development of the environment to Tk 242 crore this fiscal, down from Tk 417 crore last fiscal.

AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed alleged that the BNP-Jamaat men have grabbed six lakh acres of khas land in the last four and a half years.

Referring to the introduction of environment-friendly four-stroke CNG autorickshaw, he said the ruling party had opted for it just to amass wealth. Although each vehicle costs only Tk 75,000, its party men sold it at Tk 3.5 lakh, he added.

Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, another presidium member, said the myopic policies of the government would cause suffering to the people as well as the next generations.

AL environment affairs secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said that PM's Parliamentary Affairs Advisor Salauddin Qauder Chowdhury was recently awarded for his contribution to afforestation, although he implemented such programme with the government funds on 41 acres of land, which is actually owned by other people.

He also said that the ruling party MPs, leaders and activists are now even trying to do business over graveyards.

AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu also spoke at the press conference held at a community centre in the city.