They said all village-level environmental groups will have to be coordinated to create awareness among the people at grassroots level to save natural resources.

The speakers also suggested lobbying with major political parties so that they are forced to include the environmental issues in their election manifestos.

They said apart from national efforts, regional and international co-operation among the different environmental groups is also essential to maintain a healthy environment.

Bapa organised the meeting to have an exchange of views with the editors and senior journalists at the National Press Club in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Bapa President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said Bapa has been working on different environmental issues for long with the active support of press and electronic media.

Due to Bapa's strong agitation, the government banned the plying of 20-year-old buses in the city and the use of polythene bag in the country, he said, but it is a matter of pity that the banned buses are again running on the roads and the polythene bags have returned to markets in other forms.

Lack of proper monitoring is the main cause of their return, he added.

Prof Muzaffer said there is very little knowledge about bio-diversity among the government and the mass people.

"We don't know the exact quantity of gas, coal and other natural resources of our country and how we can use them," he said, adding, "We shall have to go for renewable energy but so far there is no initiative in this regard."

Prof Muzaffer said the proposed Tipaimukh Dam would destroy the ecology and bio-diversity of the northeastern region of the country.

Acting editor of the Ittefaq Rahat Khan said, "Our rivers, forests and hills are being destroyed very quickly. If we do not take any immediate measures to conserve them our existence will be at stake."

Only Bapa's agitation cannot protect the environment and natural resources of the country if the government does not take bold steps in this regard, he added.

Bapa founding president Abul Mal Abdul Muhit said, "We hope that we will able to keep our population within 20 crore and we have to protect our environment for their better living."

Bapa Vice-president Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed sought the help of media and lawyers on different environmental issues.

Editor of Bangladesh Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said continued efforts, legal measures and mass awareness can forge ahead the environmental movement.

Former advisor of the caretaker government ASM Shahjahan, General Secretary of the National Press Club Shaukat Mahmood, Amardesh Editor Amanullah Kabir, Deshbangla Editor Dr Ferdous Ahmed Quoreshi and its News Editor Abu Taher, The New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Associate Editor of Jugantar Sohrab Hossain, Prothom Alo News Editor Sanaullah, Joint Editor Abdul Qayum, and Chief Reporter Pranab Saha, and Bapa General Secretary Mohidul Haque Khan also took part in the discussion.

Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, an eminent economist, was also present at the meeting.