This year the theme is 'Melting Ice: A Hot Topic?' as declared by the United Nations.

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Environment and various non-government organisations working on environment have chalked out elaborate programmes, including rallies, processions, environment fair, discussion, children's essay and poster competitions, musical soirees, tree plantation and recycling and clean-up campaigns to mark the day.

President Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina issued separated messages on this occasion emphasising the need for sensitising people about the hazards of global warming.

Prof Iajuddin said the impact of environment not only falls on a certain country or region, rather it affects the whole world.

The president said temperature of earth surface and water level of sea will rise due to climate change. "Low-lying areas will go under water, flow of river water will be reduced and salinity in water and land increased for climate change," he mentioned.

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in his message said plants and animals of the world are facing risk due to change in weather and climate and environment degradation.

"Deforestation, filling of water bodies, hindrance in flow of rivers, industrial waste, noise pollution and various contexts are destroying ecological balance," he said.

He also said that global warming, the melting of ice in polar area and mountain peaks, want of sweet water, drought and salinity have become a challenge for a safe and liveable world.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his message said greenhouse gas emissions are making the world warmer. "Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are higher than at any time for the past 600,000 year and rate of increase is accelerating," he said.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina called upon people to raise awareness about climate change and wage a movement for preventing environmental pollution.

She said Bangladesh is an agro-based country where livelihood of most of the countrymen depends on agriculture but deforestation, lack of rainwater and navigability of the rivers and irrigation of croplands from the saline river waters are making Bangladesh's fertile lands infertile.

Environment and Forest Adviser Dr CS Karim will inaugurate the programmes organised on the occasion and an environment fair at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city at 12:30 pm today. Department of Environment will also organise a rally and walkathon at 7:30am, which will begin from in front of National Museum and end at National Press Club.

Meanwhile, Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forests AHM Rezaul Karim at a press briefing at the Secretariat yesterday said they have already taken action against 215 corrupt officials and filed cases against 459 officials on charge of alleged corruption and irregularities.