Speakers said this at the publication ceremony of 'People's Report on Environment-2001', Bangla version, arranged by the Unnayan Samannay, under the Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP) programme of UNDP yesterday in the CIRDAP auditorium.

Dr Atiur Rahaman, president of Unnayan Samannay, chaired the inaugural session, which was participated by, among others,Tanveer Hussain, the environment and forest secretary,Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, M Aminul Islam from UNDP, Chinmoy Mutsuddi, communication specialist of SEMP and Mahbub Hasan of Samannay.

Tanveer Hussain stressed the awareness about earth filling in the low-lying area and river and canals grabbing around the Dhaka city. Otherwise, he said, the people especially of the posh residential areas such as Gulshan,Banani and Baridhara,would have to live virtually in a safety tank as no drainage will be possible.

Terming awareness among the masses of the environmental pollution the key solution to save the environment, the speakers urged the government and politicians to take some effective actions in this regard.

Professor Sayeed said as environment is a technical subject, simple and easy books and reading materials should reach the mass people to make them environmentally conscious.

Professor Atiur Rahaman observed commoners' views that usually do not get recognition were given emphasis in the report.

The report consists of 10 articles on land and agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, water,industries, urbanisation, climate and environmental economics.