World Ozone Day tomorrow | Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
DHAKA, Sept 15, 2020 (BSS) – The World Ozone Day will be observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe tomorrow with the theme ‘Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection’.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion urging all to take concerted efforts to help protect the ozone layer to save the environment.
In his message, the President laid emphasis on united efforts of all to invent environment-friendly technology ensuring its proper use in all sectors, in line with the Montreal Protocol.
“I think the celebration of this day will play a very positive role in raising public awareness about the ozone layer’s importance and sustaining the existence of all living things in the world and above all protecting human health as well,” he hoped.
The head of the state observed that under the Vienna Convention adopted in 1975 and the Montreal Protocol adopted in 1986, all world countries are putting joint-effort to protect the ozone layer and mitigate the climate change impact.
Terming the Montreal Protocol of the United Nations as a landmark step, the President added: “As a result, the ozone layer is gradually returning to its previous state.”
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the government as well as the private sector to come forward to protect the life-sustaining environment by creating mass-awareness, doing afforestation, carrying out existing laws and regulations, and using environment-friendly alternative technologies.
Referring to recent COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, she said it has devastated the world economy, but simultaneously the longtime lock down helped reduce air pollution to almost zero turning the Earth into a dark green planet and rebuild the ozone layer.
In this context, the premier also mentioned different pragmatic steps of her government to protect the environment and protect the ozone layer.
She said, “After the formation of three successive governments since 2007, we have taken various effective steps to restructure the ozone layer. We have already banned the use of most ozone depleting substances in the country, including HCFC (Hydro Chlorofluorocarbon).”
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bengali of all time, was very sensitive in maintaining the balance of the environment and he focused on the forestry and coastal green belt across the country, among other responsibilities, Hasina mentioned.
The prime minister added: “After the formation of the Awami League-led government in 1996, we adopted a comprehensive plan to ensure proper implementation of the Montreal Protocol.”
Marking the day, a seminar and an art competition for children will be held at the Environment Building Auditorium in city’s Agargaon area tomorrow.
Special discussion programmes will be aired on various electronic media including Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.
A national seminar will be organized at the auditorium of the Department of Environment in Agargaon tomorrow at 2 pm maintaining proper health and hygiene rules.
The seminar will be attended by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin, Deputy Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Secretary of the ministry Ziaul Hasan, additional secretary of the ministry, Director General of the Department of Environment and UNDP Resident Representative as well as senior officials and representatives of government and non-government organizations, added the release.
The Montreal Protocol was signed in the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer on September 16, 1987 and it came into force on 1 January 1989.
Bangladesh has been observing the day since 1990 following signing of the protocol in the same year.
