ED: Protect the Sundarbans at all cost

One of the cornerstones of Bangladesh's natural resources -- the Sundarbans -- has been a boon for this country. From adding to the country’s biodiversity to providing natural protection against the mightiest of storms, the importance of the Sundarbans cannot be overlooked.

As such, it is extremely unfortunate to witness the negligence this forest faces. The Sundarbans Conservation Project was supposed to be finished by the year 2024, but the project has yet to be started. 

Here lies the underlying issue: Delays and incompetence have become all too common when it comes to such projects, an issue made worse by the excessive red tape that continues to be an obstacle for progress, not just for this project but most others in the country.

This needs to be fixed. Starting now, a fixed timeline needs to be agreed upon. Bonuses and benefits need to be tied to the completion of specific milestones and failure to adhere to this timeline should be punished, and those responsible must be held accountable.

As one of the leaders in the fight against climate change, we cannot let one of our national treasures be destroyed in this manner and cannot let projects which prioritize the fight against climate change fall through as a result of negligence and incompetence.

Such projects need to be streamlined and it is about time that inefficiency became a thing of the past when it comes to government projects, especially when it comes to the environment, and even more so when it comes to the Sundarbans.