BM Desk:

The Land Minister has directed that necessary measures be taken for greening the wide empty space located in the Chingri Mahal (Shrimp Pond area) for environmental protection. The land minister issued this directive while presiding over a meeting of the National Shrimp Management Committee held in the conference room of the land ministry here on Wednesday. Land Secretary Md. Khalilur Rahman was present at the meeting.

The land minister stated that the policy decisions of the Land Ministry are made with sustainable development and environmental consciousness in mind and are acted upon accordingly. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has given strict instructions in this regard. He also mentioned that the Land Ministry is one of the partner ministries involved in activities undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh for climate adaptation and mitigating the impact of climate change. The Land Minister further emphasized that various projects of the Ministry of Land, including the law currently under process to protect agricultural land and the land zoning project, will play a crucial role in climate adaptation and mitigation.

Saifuzzaman Chowdhury was instructed to plant suitable vegetation in the wide empty space located in the shrimp pond after consulting with experts, considering the salinity-prone coastal areas and shrimp farming, among other factors. The minister was also directed to ensure that the embankment near Chingrimahal is not damaged during drainage.

Various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change officials, field administration officials of Cox’s Bazar and Satkhira districts, and individuals involved in shrimp farming and trade, attended the meeting, among others.

On the same day, the 74th meeting of the committee on the lease of government Jalmahal (waterbodies) was held at noon. Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury presided over the meeting, with officials from the Ministry of Land, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Fisheries, Department of Cooperatives, and Fisheries Development Corporation in attendance. Deputy Commissioners of Habiganj, Rangamati, Moulvibazar, and Natore joined the meeting virtually from their respective districts.