The Government has imposed a ban on the construction of any new industrial establishments or projects within 10-kilometre area declared as the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) surrounding the Sundarbans Reserve Forest.

The Environment Ministry’s Environment-3 Wing on Monday issued a gazette notification in this regard.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has imposed the ban exercising the powers conferred under Section 5 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010).

In light of the ECA declaration, environmentally sustainable and planned activities aimed at conserving the natural environment, improving environmental quality, controlling and mitigating pollution may be undertaken in the area.

This decision is considered a significant step toward maintaining the ecological balance in the ECA region surrounding the Sundarbans.