RAJSHAHI, June 5, 2022 (BSS) - Generating awareness among the public in general can be the best way of survival of all living beings through protecting the environment and wildlife from further degradation.

Environment has been facing a serious threat due to various natural and manmade catastrophes posing an identical threat to the planet Earth at present. So, all the government, non-government and volunteer organizations should forward and work together.

Experts and administrative officials came up with the observation while addressing a post-rally discussion on the issue today.

The Department of Environment (DoE) and District Administration jointly organised the discussion at Shilpakala Academy auditorium in observance of the World Environment Day-2022.

"Only One Earth: Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature" was the main theme of the day.

On the occasion, prizes were distributed among the winners of art competitions for children.

Commissioner of Rajshahi Division GSM Zafarullah and Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Abu Kalam Siddique addressed the discussion as chief and special guests respectively, while Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil was in the chair.

Mahmuda Parveen, Deputy Director of DoE, Rajshahi, welcomed the participants.

Prof Sabrina Naz, Director of the Institute of Environmental Sciences in Rajshahi University, illustrated the aspects of protecting the environment besides its harming factors during her keynote presentation.

She also said emphasis should be given on providing positive incentives for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing biodiversity conservation as well as promoting sustainable development goals of the region.

Dr Naz identically mentioned that substantial and sustainable reduction of plastic pollution can be the vital means of protecting water bodies and environment as well from further degradation.

Currently, plastic pollution is being judged as a major threat to the whole ecosystem. So, creating public awareness on the issue has become indispensable.

Commissioner Zafarullah expressed concern over an increasing use of plastics for packaging perishable foods. He said city corporations and municipalities across the country are not yet ready to adopt the strategy of reduce, reuse and recycle, a 3R strategy formulated by DoE.

He called for creating awareness among all concerned including the younger generations to prevent environmental degradation that severely threatens the existence of the whole planet, its habitation and civilization.

Earlier, a colourful rally was brought out from the city's Bangabandhu Crossing and that ended at the meeting venue after parading main thoroughfares of the city.