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Dhaka, May 12, 2025 : The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a notification prohibiting the establishment of new industrial units or projects within a 10-kilometer radius of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest. The directive, issued on Monday (May 12) from the ministry’s Environment-3 branch, aims to protect the ecologically sensitive region.
According to the notification, under the authority of Section 5 of the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended in 2010), a ban has been imposed on setting up new industrial establishments or projects within the 10-kilometer Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans. However, the notification allows planned and eco-friendly activities in the region to ensure environmental conservation, pollution control, mitigation, and sustainable management.
This decision is considered a significant step toward maintaining the ecological balance of the Sundarbans’ ECA. Earlier, on April 21, the interim government had decided to prohibit new industrial setups or projects within the 10-kilometer radius of the Sundarbans. The notification was formally issued 20 days later on Monday.
AI/MR
