Although that tannery industrial park in Savar was scheduled to complete by 2005, only 50 percent of the project work has been completed so far, they said.

They also called for setting up a central effluent treatment plant for the tannery industry to check pollution of water and the environment.

Save the Environment Movement and the Department of International Relationship (IR) of Dhaka University organised the seminar on 'Pollution and waste management: Tannery relocation to Savar'.

Four students of IR department -- Shamima Nasreen, Farhana Alam, Sumaya Imam and Abu Bakar Siddiqui -- presented a research paper on the tannery relocation.

The speakers called for formulating a master plan to improve the situation. Coordination between the government and private sector is a must for the relocation of the tannery industry, they added.

An effective monitoring system should also be evolved to monitor the whole process, they said.

Prof Asheka Irshad said the policymakers have to make sure that the existing rules are implemented to save the environment. Besides, raising awareness among the people about environmental pollution is a must, she said.

President of Save the Environment Movement Dr Naser Khan said Dhaka city would become unliveable after a few years if the tanneries are not relocated soon. The waste from tanneries might even pollute groundwater, he cautioned.

"The government took the decision to relocate the tanneries in order to protect the environment and to modernise the factories. But the process of relocation is being delayed as different ministries are involved in it," said Sohrab Hossain of the Department of Environment.

Presided over by Chairperson of IR department Prof Amena Mohsin, the seminar was also addressed by Prof Ramjul Haque, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, Abdul Halim and Ruksana Kibria.