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The government has announced a ban on the establishment of any new industrial projects within a 10-kilometre radius of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest, designated as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the directive through a gazette notification from the Environment-3 Wing on Monday.
This ban is enforced under Section 5 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010), which empowers the government to safeguard vital environmental zones.
In line with the ECA declaration, the government has emphasized that only environmentally sustainable activities aimed at conserving the region's natural habitat, enhancing environmental quality, and managing pollution will be permitted.
This move is seen as a crucial step toward preserving the ecological integrity of the Sundarbans and ensuring the long-term protection of the area.