Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) to strictly ensure compliance of environmental standards and obligations in the specialized economic zones producing export bound products, reports BSS.
“The prime minister issued particular directives as she addressed the BEPZA's sixth Governing Council meeting at her office,” premier’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told newsmen emerging from the meeting.
He said Sheikh Hasina, herself the BEZA Governing Council chairperson, particularly asked the regulatory authority to keep provision of adequate water bodies and effluent treatment plants (ETP) in every industrial zone.
The premier, he said, simultaneously asked for creating artificial mangrove forest around the industrial zones particularly along the southern coastlines to protect the region from cyclones, storm surges and other natural disasters.
The prime minister said the government planned to construct a marine driveway from Mirersari to Chittagong.
BEPZA’s Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury gave a presentation on the activities of the regulatory body and progress of the implementation of decisions taken in its previous 5th governing council meeting held in January 2017.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal were present among others, in the meeting.