Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Friday said continuity of the works taken to protect the environment, forests, biodiversity and rivers must be maintained.

She said the interim government has amended the laws and formulated new policies to resolve the long-standing environmental problems.

The government is giving importance to increasing institutional capacity, developing information and monitoring systems and addressing industrial and household pollution, salinity and reduction of river water flow, said the environment adviser.

She made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest the inaugural session of a three-day national conference, organised jointly by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium at Farmgate.

Rizwana, also the information and broadcasting adviser, said although the use of polythene has been banned since 2002, it has not been effective.

Although polythene is used in kitchen markets, its use has been restricted at super shops, he said, adding noise pollution control rules have been enacted, giving the police the power to penalise polluters.

She urged all to come forward, out of their social responsibility, to preventing environmental and noise pollution.

Rizwana said a project is being taken up in five rivers surrounding capital Dhaka (Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Balu, Turag, Dhaleshwari) and eight rivers of eight divisions.

The navigability of the rivers will be restored by removing waste and dredging from these rivers, she said.

Presided over by BAPA President Professor Nur Mohammad Talukder, the inaugural ceremony of the conference was addressed, among others, by BAPA Vice Presidents Professor M Feroze Ahmed and Professor Dr Nazrul Islam.